Torrington took the command of the English fleet which lay in the Downs, and sailed to Saint Helen's.

He was there joined by a Dutch squadron under the command of Evertsen.

It seemed that the cliffs of the Isle of Wight would witness one of the greatest naval conflicts recorded in history.

A hundred and fifty ships of the line could be counted at once from the watchtower of Saint Catharine's.

On the cast of the huge precipice of Black Gang Chine, and in full view of the richly wooded rocks of Saint Lawrence and Ventnor, were mustered the maritime forces of England and Holland.