Late May 1652

Tromp led his fleet southward, when he received a message about cruising along the shore from the Texel to the Flemish coast. He was able to locate the group of 7 Vlissingen and Middelburg Directors' ships, under the command of Jan Thyssen. He was unsuccessful in locating Jan Evertsen, who he had hoped to find. One Jan Thyssen's ships was insufficiently ballasted and was unnavigable, so he sent her into Vlissingen. The rest brought his strength up to 42 warships, where he was sailing off the Hoofden. This was circa 23 May 1652. This is based on my translation of a passage in Dr. Elias's book. Sources:

1. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.II, 1923.