Witte de With rejected Michiel de Ruyter's advice to wait for better circumstances and insisted on forcing a decisive engagement. The choice ignored the fleet's strained command relationships and uncertain morale. His declaration that he would lead the fleet to the enemy and let the devil bring it back was both aggressive and fatalistic. The battle was therefore set up as a test of whether a divided fleet could carry out its commander's intent.
Notable Point · 25:33-26:03
De With forces a decisive battle
De With rejected de Ruyter's advice to wait for better circumstances and committed an already divided fleet to decisive action.