"It was a puzzling dilemma," as the official Dutch record says, and the members of the council came to the conclusion that it would be better to sleep over it.
When the morning dawned the council was resumed, but the discussions had not continued very long before they were abruptly closed by the news of the appearance of a reinforcement of three ships to Dale's fleet. This addition to the enemy's strength it was felt decided affirmatively the question of the fleet's withdrawal from an unequal contest. Without loss of time the order was passed through the fleet for a return to Jakatra with a view of seeking there the protection of the guns of the fortifications. Anchor was weighed accordingly and the Dutch ships set a course for Jakatra closely followed by the English ships. Before the destination was reached a further council of war was held, as grave doubts were entertained by some as to the wisdom of the plan of taking refuge in harbour. On second thoughts it was determined to leave Jakatra to its fate and to steer a course for the Moluccas where with the resources available a stand might be made with a reasonable prospect of success. Eventually this course was successfully followed.
Dale maintained a curiously supine attitude in the face of this daring retreat of the Dutch. With his strengthened fleet his plain duty was to pursue and overwhelm the enemy, but instead he practically did nothing. His plea in his account of the fight is that he could not imagine that Coen would abandon the position ashore to its fate, but, even so, it is not clear why he did not keep in touch with the Dutch fleet. By allowing it to escape he not only rendered his own sacrifices nugatory, but he sealed the fate of the English cause in the Eastern seas. Never
