Blake took shelter in the English harbors.

The Dutch fleet was dispersed, and received great damage.
Sir George Ayscue, though he commanded only forty ships, according to the English accounts, engaged near Plymouth the famous De Ruiter, who had under him fifty ships of war, with thirty merchantmen.

The Dutch ships were indeed of inferior force to the English.

De Ruiter, the only admiral in Europe who has attained a renown equal to that of the greatest general, defended himself so well, that Ayscue gained no advantage over him.

Night parted them in the greatest heat of the action.