Mutineers aboard Washington refused to man the guns and threw ammunition into the sea. Nearly every captain reported similar conditions, with Batavia the stated exception. The council judged that battle would do little to stop an invasion whose troops had already landed, and the crews would also prevent the ships being scuttled. Surrender offered the captains a hope that the fleet would pass to the Stadtholder rather than become Royal Navy prizes.
Notable Point · 1:50:46-1:52:00
Why mutiny prevented fighting or scuttling
The council faced crews unwilling to fight or permit scuttling and hoped surrender would preserve the ships for the Stadtholder.