Fleet which was then about 50 Sail strong of Men of War He had likewise at the same time detached from his Fleet a Squadron of 16 Men of War to convoy home some Merchant-ships to Holland Amidst those Transactions he heard the News of the Death of Charles Gustavus King of Sweden which happened on the 23d of February at Gottenburg a violent Distemper of not above 6 Days continuance having carried him off in the 36th Year of his Age. The unexpected Death of that great Prince revived the Hopes and raised the palled Courage of the Danes who not without sufficient Cause looked on him as the Scourge of their Nation by reason of his extraordinary Valour and Success In the mean while the Negotiation for a Peace which the Plenipotentiaries of thâ— mediating Powers were endeavouring was drilled on to a tedious length notwithstanding the frequent Conferences they had about it in the Tent erected for that effect between Copenhagen and the Swedish Army which Delay was caused by the Intrigues of the French and English Ambassadours at the Court of Swedeland for that they were so far from endeavouring heartily to bring that Power to an Accommodation that underhand they blew the Coals and exasperated Matters by luring on that Court with the Airy Hopes of several Conquests But However at last after many Obstacles it was happily concluded on the 6th of June And four days after the Swedish Army raised the Siege of Copenhagen and the two Northern Crowns thereby put an end to those Troubles that seemed to have rendred them irreconcilable and that had kindled the Jealousie and raised the Arms of so many Princes against the growing Power of Swedeland The States seeing Affairs were happily terminated on that side sent Orders to de Ruiter that as soon as the Swedes should have restored to Denmark all the Places they were obliged to restore by the Treaty he should re-imbark the States Troops and return back with his Navy to Holland But the King of Denmark considering the great Service he had received from de Ruiter not willing to let him depart without giving him some Marks of his Acknowledgment would needs honour him with the Order of Knighthood for him and his heirs and with Letters of Nobility to which he added an annual Pension of 800 Crowns Pulchler likewise who Commanded the Land Forces was gratified with an annual Pension a Golden Chain and a Medal And the other Officers received also every one presents proportionable to their rank and the merit of their Services The War the United Provinces had with Portugal which we have already mentioned was also terminated by a Treaty signed the 6th of August to the extreme displeasure of the Privateers of several Nations that made use of the Commissions of that Crown the more securely to go a Pyrating after the Dutch Merchant Ships In the mean time the Corsairs of Barbary did so much mischief in the Mediterranean that the States were forced to send thither Vice-Admiral de Ruiter with a Fleet of about 20 men of War For about the space of 6 Weeks he only sailed about the Mediterranean Convoying Merchant Ships without discovering any Pyrate but on the 26th of February he gave chace to a Corsair Ship of Tunis called the Crescent and forcing her to run a ground upon the Coast he delivered 40 Christian slaves Two days after he went and Anchored before Tunis where he Concluded a Treaty of Peace between the United Provinces and those Barbarians and delivered 60 Dutch slaves more who were Exchanged for the Turks taken in the Corsair called the Crescent which he had lately taken But because there were some Articles in that Treaty that displeased the States de Ruiter at his return to the Coasts of Barbary in November following caused them to be altered There was likewise a Treaty of Peace Concluded with the Algerines about the end of the Month of March in which likewise some change was made by the consent of those Corsairs but they soon after broke it Rear-Admiral Tromp and Captain Schey had likewise orders to go into the Mediterranean with a Fleet of 10 Merchant Ships and on the 1st day of January 1663 the two Fleets having met and saluted one another De Ruiter steer'd towards Alicant and Tromp towards Leghorn Some weeks after namely on the 17th of March de Ruiter having receiv'd order from the States to leave the Command of the Fleet that was to stay in the Mediterranean to Tromp and to return back himself into Holland accordingly left it to him together with the necessary instructions relating to what remained yet to be put in Execution and at the same time put on Board of Tromp the Fiscal Vyant who had assisted at all the Treaties that had been made with the Turks that he might serve him for his Counsel But instead of being able to pacifie the turbulent humour of those Barbarians the Algerine grew thereupon the more insolent For because the Ratification of the Treaty was not presently sent them and that several months had past without their seeing either any one Dutch Man of War or the promised ransome for the Slaves of that Nation they began to grow so much the more impatient because the Plague that then raged among them sweeping away many of the Dutch Slaves deprived thereby their greedy Patrons of their Ransom too So that the murmurs of those discontented Barbarians soon after broke out in new Hostilities For at the beginning of the Summer they took upon them to visit the Dutch Merchant Ships and then under pretence they were laden with Merchandises belonging to their Enemies they pillaged them without Controul And not long after they carried a Dutch Merchant Ship to Algiers confiscated her Cargo and sold her Men for Slaves The States hearing of all these mischiefs Writ to their Consul there Vanden Burg to sollicit the Restitution of the Effects that were seiz'd and the Liberty of the Slaves those Barbarians had newly made But the Corsairs refusing to give any satisfaction the States gave Orders they should be obliged to it by force of Arms. Rear-Admiral Tromp therefore having begun to give them Chace took several of them and freed thereby a great number of Christian Slaves And among others he took two Algerine Corsairs on the 10th of January near Malaga whereof one carried 18 and the other 20 Guns and had on board her 180 Turks or Moors 25 Christian Slaves and 5 Renegadoes These Prises caused great alarms at Algeirs where the Barbarians gave out that their losses in them amounted to the number of 6 or 700 Turks Moors or Renegadoes for which they demanded Reparation of the Dutch Consul Offering to make satisfaction for their own Hostilities to Re-establish all things again upon a good Foot and to break the Treaty Concluded with the English They promised likewise they would stay for the Money designed for the Ransoming of the Dutch Slaves and demanded earnest for it thinking it was not
out of Legorn till Bodley had begun the fight Bodley accordingly detacht out 3 of his Men of War and a Fire-Ship to go and brave the Hollanders who seeing Appleton offered not to stir out thought it necessary to use a Stratagem by making as if they would go out against Bodley and in effect they tackt about after him but keeping their Eye still upon the Harbour being impatient to see Appleton weigh Anchor who thinking the Hollanders would indeed have pursued their way to make up to Bodley ventures at length to come out with his Squadron of 6 Men of War which the Hollanders no sooner perceived De Galen attacks the English in the Mediteranean but immediately veering back they fell all on a sudden upon him De Galen attackt the Bonaventure carrying 40 Guns and 180 men and without giving him time to make ready for a defence he fired at him several broad sides one after another so thick that at last a Bullet chancing to penetrate into her Powder-Room she was blown up into the Air with all her men except 6 or 7 Seamen that were saved That disaster extreamly discouraged the English and raised the courage of their Enemies Appleton Commanded in the Ship call'd the Leopard carrying 54 Guns and near 200 men He was attackt by the Ships the Sun and the Julus Caesar who battered him in a most terrible manner Tromp the Son who was then advanced to the Office of a Rear-Admiral Cornelius Tromp made Rear Admiral Commanded in the Ship called the Moon vacant by the death of Captain Bont who was killed in the fight of Monte Christo he attackt the Samson carrying 40 Guns and 130 Men. He fought with so much the more valour because he still remembred the affront he lately suffered in the Phoenix so that coming to Board her after he had grapled her he powred into her so great a number of Seamen that she was forced to yield But in the mean time there was a Dutch Fire-Ship that slipping along cunningly by the other side of the English Ship under the favourable covert of a thick smoak and grapling her the flames overrun her with such Rapidity that they penetrated into her Powder-Room and blew her up But the men in her had better luck than those in the Bonaventure the most part of them being saved by the Dutch Boats The Ship called the Levant Merchant was attackt by the Captains Forme and de Ham who likewise boarding her forced her to yield at Discretion after the fight she was carried into Legorn The Ship called the Traveller being attackt by de Vries and Boutebotter was also constrained to undergo the same Treatment Amidst these Transactions an Englâ—sh Fire-Ship was played at the Dutch Rear-Admiral to burn him but de Galâ—n espying her coming sunk her with his Cannon The Ships called the Sun and Julius Coesar battered Appleton's sides who seeing himself deserted by Bodley defended himself like a man in despair and obliged the Aggressors to retire But Captain de Boet having at last grapled him encouraged the other two to come on and charge him again so that Appleton seeing no less than three Enemies upon him at once despaired of saving himself and in that humour was going to set fire to the Powder but his men having hindred him from executing that horrid design he was forced to yield the Leopard which he Commanded having 80 men kill'd and 60 wounded Of 6 Ships of which Appleton's Squadron was Composed there were 5 destroyed or Mastered there was but one left called the Marie which making use of her sails instead of her guns saved her self by flying towards Bodlâ—y who with his Squadron of 8 Ships tho' he had the Weather-gage did nothing during the whole fight but make some discharges with his Guns against the Dutch Captains Sybrant Mol Rijkhoven Slortz Oosterwout Roodhaas Govertsz and Viotnhoven But as soon as he heard of the defeat of Appleton he put up all his sails and betook himself to flight Tromp would have given him chace with some of the Ships that were least endamaged but the night coming on he stole away by favour of the darkness and so escaped the pursuits of the Victors De Galen mortally wounded in the fight But the Glorious advantages the Dutch had thus newly gained were traversed by the loss of him that had the most contributed thereto and who had managed that Action with all imaginable Conduct and Prudence This Valiant Man being on board in his Post had his right leg shot off by the second Cannon ball that was shot at his Ship but yet that his men might not be discouraged he for some time conceal'd his hurt till the Mrs. chief Mate of his Ship being the first that perceived it represented to him that he lost so much Blood that he would be in evident danger of his life if it were not instantly stopt He was therefore carried down into the Hold where his Leg was saw'd off below the knee and a glass of Wine being presented him to fortifie his heart he drunk it of as briskly as if he had felt no harm after which he lay down saying these words The English King-killers shall pay for all He was hardly drest but he would needs be carried up again to be a spectator of the rest of the fight but he was so extreamly weakned that his people would not obey him in that point All that he could do then in the pitifull plight he was in to satisfie that desire of Glory that accompanies all Hero's to their last gasp was to encourage his men by his discourses and as soon as he heard the English had betaken themselves to flight he Commanded his men without losing of time immediately to hoist up all their sails and to pursue them but they being got already a great way off the night put a stop to the intentions of the Victors who were forced to return to an Anchor in the road of Legorn The English lost in this Action 6 Men of War of which one was sunk 3 were taken and 2 burnt And they had 286 men killed 293 wounded and some made Prisoners The Hollanders loss amounted to 123 men kill'd and near as many wounded and one Ship call'd the Madonna Della Vignia was also lost Admiral de Galen De Galen dies being carried to Legorn the Great Duke of Tuscany did him all the honours imaginable sending him presents of all that was capable to give him any ease or refreshment till the day of his death which was on the 23d of March He was 48 years old and was as much lamented for his Merit and the Great Experience he had in Marine affairs as for the great and signal Services he had done to his Country His Body was transported into Holland and interr'd the 13th of December in the new Church at Amsterdam The States ordered a Magnificent Tomb to be erected Is intered in Amsterdam to immortalise the Memory
shores to tremble and flying from thence to spend it self in the Downs was redoubled thence by Echo's and became much more frightfull And the Sea being tinged all over with the blood of so many Butcheries swallowed up with equal greediness both Men and Ships Tromp had already the first time pierced into the English Fleet with so much success that he had some reason to flatter himself with the hopes of a Victory and coming on a second time and falling upon the biggest of the English men of War there the undaunted Courage of that Great Admiral and the bravery of his Seamen were seen to shine forth in their full Glory For sometimes he went into the Captains Chamber and taking up a Telescope he took a view of all the Squadrons of his Fleet and observed whether every one did his duty or no and thence returning again upon Deck he went and encouraged his men and used all the Rhetorick he could to inspire them with love for their Country However after all being engaged a great way within the very heart of the Enemies Fleet he found himself overpower'd by their Numbers and deserted by his own Ships at which conceiving a mortal resentment he uttered these words VVill any thing be done or no I must it seems perish No body comes in to my assistance Must I alone this day be the Victime of the Enemies His Ship being covered with a thick Cloud of smoke was not to be seen any longer and in the mean while the English Rear-Admiral followed by some Frigats approaching to him there flew from the third of that Rank Lieutenant Admiral Tromp kill'd in the Battle a fatal ball that struck him on the left Temple as he was giving order about his Guns and laid him for dead at the feet of his Lamenting Seamen So mournfull an accident pierced them to the Quick that to revenge the death of so valiant a man and that it might not be said the Author of so terrible an Action went unpunisht a Common soldier of the Admiral Ship advancing upon the Deck shot the Captain of the aforesaid Frigat in the cheek and fell'd him dead with a musket Bullet as he was making Bravado's with his drawn hanger in his hand Lieutenant Admiral Tromp being carried immediately into the Captains Chamber was laid upon a Pillow and some moments after gave up the Ghost after he had exhorted his Seamen to fight like men of Courage and prayed God to take into his protection all that were under his Command Some report He dies that at the approach of death he addressed these words to his men I have finisht my Course have good Courage In the mean while the Ship Brederode was engaged within the main Body of the Enemies Fleet and because every one attentively lookt out to see whether the Bloody Flagg which was the signal for coming on board appeared upon the Admirals Poop the Chief Officers of the Dutch Fleet found by that they were Commanded on board the Admiral Where being come and being informed of their great loss upon a consultation held thereupon they all resolved that to prevent the Seamens being discouraged the death of the valiant Tromp should be concealed and recommended to the Captain on board the Admirals Ship that he should keep to the Orders Tromp had before given and keep up same Flag After which they all hastned back every one to his respective Ship and continued the fight Upon this fatal blow it appear'd what a desperate and undaunted resolution are able to make men do For all the Captains of the Fleet were so sensibly toucht at the loss of their Admiral that breathing nothing but rage and fury they pierced three times through and through the Enemies Fleet fiercely firing at and battering all that opposed their passage but as an addition to the unhappiness of that unfortunate day Vice-Admiral Evertsz's Ship who after Tromp's death had the chief Command of the Fleet was so miserably shattered and disabled that to avoid falling into the hands of the English they were forced to carry her off into the Meuse having on board her 70 men killed or wounded De Ruiter who was in the Ship called the Lamb carrying about 40 Guns and 150 men was exposed to the greatest fire of the Enemies fighting with so much Courage that he made his way through the midst of the English Squadron but he found himself at length so extreamly weakned that he had hardly half his men left 43 of them being killed and 35 wounded His mizzen mast his main yard and in General all his rigging except of his Poop was shot away and of Ammunition he had but 700 pound of Powder and very few Bullets left so that seeing himself reduced into so pitifull a Condition that he was no longer able to keep the Sea he was at last forced to be towed away into the Meuse by Captain Aldertsz de Hoorn The English Admiral being grappled by two Fire-Ships his Ship was in an instant all in a flame and some of his men began already to flie out of her they which were about Captain Peacock were at the last extremity and Captain Bitter was compleating their destruction by plying them with frequent broad-sides but that one of the Fire-Ships hapning to be too slowly pusht forward gave time and occasion to the English to take new Courage and briskly to imploy their Guns again and beat off their Enemies The English Ship the St. Andrew having been furiously battered by the Guns of Vice-Admiral Florisz was so terribly maul'd and shattered that it was ready to sink being half consumed with the flames had not two other Ships come in timely to her aid and rescued her from the Eminent danger she was in Captain Grave perisht by fire with a great many of his Seamen As for Captain Haas who Commanded the Ship called the Rose and Crown being attackt by 3 English Men of War he defended himself vigorously till such time as his Masts and all his rigging being shot away close by the board his vessel half burnt and many of his men kill'd he thought fit to retreat and as much shattered and disabled as he was made his way through the Enemies and got likewise to Goree Hoyen Cox whom we have several times mentioned upon occasion of the Ship Phoenix and Captain Zanger fought against one another with so much courage and obstinacy that both their Ships viz. The Phoenix and the West Kappel were sunk Schatter finding himself engaged with the Van guard of Monk's Squadron made head against them alone and if his Ship the Golden Dolphin had not at last been sunk being pierced through and through as she was with Bullets he would doubtless have made the Enemies pay somewhat dearer for her loss But however fortune being willing in some sort to recompence desert had compassion of so many brave men and permitted a Frigat to pass by his side as he was just ready to be swallowed
at the Village Ter Heide near the Hague and so on to the Texel and found their Number to amount to 36000. In the mean while an Ordinance was publish'd prohibiting all Subjects of the United Provinces to stir out of their Ports upon pain of Confiscation of their ships and Merchandizes in case they were taken And they likewise prohibited in particular the exportation of all sorts of Ammunition and the going out of the ships designed for the Whale-Fishing and all sorts of Fishing about Greenland and small Fishing and the importation of Herrings and other salt Fish which was done with intent thereby to get up the more men to Compleat the manning out of the Fleet and to prevent the Dutch ships from being taken by the English And for the Encouragement of the Seamen greater Recompences were setled than ever before upon all such who should make themselves Masters of any English man of War or of any of their Flags For to that effect there was an Ordinance publish'd dated the 10th of March by which it was promised That whatsoever ship of the States should in a General Sea-fight between the two Fleets or in any Rencounter take any English ship should have not only the ship so taken with all that belonged to it as a reward but that over and above that he that should take the chief Admiral ship of the English should have 50000 Livers Gratification for every other Admiral ship 30000 Livers for every ship of other General Officers 20000 Livers for every other ship of War carrying 40 Guns 10000 and for every other ship less considerable excepting Yachts 6000 Livers That he that should bring away the Flag of the chief Admiral should have 5000 Livers Reward and for the Flags of the other Admirals 2500 Livers for the Flag of a fore mast 1250 Livers for that of the mizzen mast 750 Livers and for the Flag on the Poop 250 Livers The Captains of the Fire-Ships that should burn any of the Enemies Ships were to have for each of them so burnt the 3d. part of the Sum promised to those who take an English man of War The same reward was Assigned for those who in quality of Volunteers should set out Fire-Ships for the Service of the State He that could sink or otherwise destroy any of the Enemies Fire ships that were ready to endamage any of the States men of War was to have 6000 Livers Gratification Those who out of an Extraordinary affection to their Country should furnish out any man of War to join the Flag of the States Fleet to endeavour the ruine of the Common Enemy were to receive double the reward granted to the other ships of the State both for the English ships they should take and for their Flags and that in acknowledgement of their Zeal their Fidelity and their Bravery There were also particular Recompences allotted to those that should rescue out of danger any of the States Men of War that happened to be surrounded by the Enemies and ready to be burnt or sunk and to those who out of a General fight should take any English man of War Besides all which there was granted to the Widows and Children of those that should happen to be killed in the fight double the sum of their Husbands or Parents Wages It was likewise Ordered that the said Recompences should be granted tho' the ships that had merited them shou'd happen to be sunk or that they could not be brought back into their Ports And to second and raise the Courage of the Great Men and inspire honour into the Cowards and run-aways it was decreed that those who should deliver up any of the States men of War into the hands of the English should be Condemned in a Council of War and punish'd with death without distinction and without remission and that all Sea-Officers whether General or Subaltern who should quit the Flag without express order from the Admiral should also be punished with death c. A little while after another Ordinance came out from the States bearing date the 17th of March allotting recompences for those who should be disabled or maimed in the Service of the States after the following rates viz. Â Livers For the loss of both Eyes 1500 For one Eye 0350 For the loss of both Arms 1500 For the Right Arm 0450 For the Left 0350 For the loss of both Hands 1200 For the Right Hand 0350 For the Left 0300 For the loss of both Legs 0700 For one Leg 0350 For the loss of both Feet 0450 For one Foot 0200 As for other lamed Persons the College of the Admiralty reserved to themselves the care to allow them recompences according to their discretion It was likewise ordered that all those that were disabled from getting any thing towards their subsistence should receive each a pension of a Ducatoon per week during the remainder of their lives and the rest of the disabled men proportionably The States General thought fit also to advertise all the Neighbouring powers that in case any of their Subjects should be met at Sea armed out to prey upon the ships of the United Provinces under colour of any Commissions borrowed from the English that if taken they shall be punish'd as Pyrates And that if any Hollanders Subjects of the States should be found and taken on board any English Privateers they should be punish'd with death without remission and their Goods confiscated The English and Scotch Captains that had been several years in the States service in their Land Forces having refused to take a new Oath of Fidelity to them for fear of losing their Estates in their own Country were thankt for their former services and transported home in one of the States men of War In the mean while the King of England having been a long time impatient to declare War against the Vnited Provinces at last published his so long intended Declaration for that effect on the 14 4th of March 1665. by his Heralds who proclaimed it by sound of Trumpet in the great Streets of West-minster and London It was conceived in these Terms WHereas The King of England s Declaration of War against the States upon the Complaints of divers Offences Injuries and Usurpâ—tions committed by the East and West-India Companies and other the Subjects of the Vnited Provinces upon the Persons Goods and Ships of our Subjects to their great Damage which amount to very considerable Sums instead of receiving the Satisfaction so often demanded we have found that they have given Order to de Ruiter not only to quit the Project formed against the Corsairs of the Mediterranean in Consequence of the Union that had been proposed to us by the States General but also to attempt upon the Liberty of our Subjects in Africk by using against them all sorts of Hostility After which we gave Orders to stop all the Ships belonging to the Subjects of the Vnited Provinces tho' we never granted any Commissions to use
Mightinesses That we had discovered the same Day the Royal Fleets having the Weather-gage At Night they steered to the East-south-eastward as we thought fit to do to the West-north-westward so that the Wind turning to the East we found our selves Yesterday-Morning in sight of the Coasts of Holland having the Weather-gage I presently gave the Signal for our Fleet to get into Order of Battle with a Resolution to attack the Enemy The Royal Fleets seeing us prepare for Fight did the like on their side so that about half an Hour after 7 the two Fleets engaged I attackt Prince Robert Bankert attackt the Count d' Estree and Tromp Sir Edward Spragg We broke reciprocally one through the other having sometimes the Weather-gage and sometimes losing it The Allies Fleet made at first a great effort with 28 Fireships which they had whereof 8 or 10 were destroyed in part by our Boats who forced them to set Fire to them themselves and then to quit them We likewise lost 4 or 5 of ours A Captain of an English Fireship that was taken Prisoner reported to us That the Enemies 5 or 6 Days ago took one of our Ships homewards bound from the East-Indies which came away before the rest The Fight lasted till the beginning of the Night and ended not but with the Retreat of the Royal Fleets who steered away towards the English Coast in a very shattered Condition Admiral Spragg's Ship was towed away by some Frigats having lost all her Masts One of their biggest Men of War is sunk and we have lost none at all As for the Officers of our Fleet we have lost the two Vice-Admirals de Liefde and Sweers and the Captains Van Guelder my Son-in-Law and Sweerius besides several others wounded Secretary Andringa is in the Number of these last We hope to inform your High and Mightinesses more particularly of the Circumstances of this great action and we thank God that he has left us the Masters of the Sea which will favour the coming in of those Ships into our Harbours that are expected home c. Admiral Tromp's Letter to the States High and Mighty Lords THO' the Royal Fleets of England and France had on the 20th instant the Weather-gage yet the Wind next Morning chopping about to the East-south-east we found our selves to the Wind-ward and they to the Lee-ward Our Fleet was about a Mile from the Country of Petren We tackt about to the North and the Enemies to the South about 8 a Clock we likewise made the same Motion to follow them The Fleet of the Allies was 150 Sail strong great and small Lieutenant Admiral Bankert having the Van attackt the White Squadron Admiral de Ruiter attackt Prince Robert who commanded the Main Battle and we attackt the Rear or the Blue Squadron commanded by Sir Edward Spragg Our Ships that were the foremost advanced towards the South-East begun to play their Guns and so insensibly the main Fleet engaged Being come up directly to Admiral Spragg we cannonaded him so terribly that his Main and Mizzen Masts were both shot down and then we were disposing our selves either to Board him or Burn him but the Ships of his Squadron that backt him running in to his Aid made so great a Resistance that our Ship was reduced into a pitiful Condition and was so disabled that I was forced to quit her to remove into the Comet where I put up my Flag about 2 a Clock in the Afternoon In the mean while the Enemies having made themselves Masters of the Weather-gage our Men were so far from letting them keep any Advantage from thence that they attackt them with so much the more Bravery and Courage and reduced them into such a Condition that their Squadron was almost ruined by it We beat them till 7 a Clock in the Afternoon when we forced them to quit the Sea I hope to go to Day on Board the Elephant vacant by the Death of Vice-Admiral Sweers I do not know that this Fight has cost us the Loss of so much as one Ship As for what passed in the Squadrons of Admiral de Ruiter and Lieutenant Admiral Bankert I am perswaded that the Letters of those two Admirals have fully informed your High and Mightinesses c. The Bodies of Vice-Admiral Sweers and of the Captains Van Guelder and Sweerius were carried to Amsterdam to be buried there but that of Vice-Admiral de Liefde was sent to Rotterdam Those great Men were accordingly interred with all the Honours due to their high Merit and their Country for which they lost their Lives omitted nothing that might contribute to the immortalizing their worthy Memory erecting to them most stately Tombs whereon are engraven suitable Epitaphs to publish their Heroick Actions to Posterity which are to be seen in the above-mentioned Cities After that happy Advantage which in that Juncture was more worth than a much greater Victory the Dutch Fleet continued at Sea till the 22d of September and then because there was no Appearance of any thing considerable likely to pass between them and the Royal Fleets during the remainder of that Year the States sent them Orders to retire home And accordingly on the 28 of the same Month The States thank the Sea-Generals for their Courage and Affection shown in the last Battles the Generals presented themselves before the Assembly of the States General and of the States of Holland where they received publick Thanks for the Zeal and stedfast Affection they had shewn for the Service of their Country in the three last Battles lately fought After which the States were pleased to reward every one of them in particular They also ordered a certain Gratuity in Mony to be given to the Widows of those General Officers that were killed and for that effect the following Resolution was taken by them and publisht the 30th of September 1673. AFter a due Deliberation it has been thought sit in pursuance of the Resolution taken by their High and Mightinesses on the 28th instant The Resolution of the States of Holland and West-Friesland fâ—r ordering Rewards to their General Sea-Officers c. and in Acknowledgement of the Services the Generals of the Fleet have rendred to their Country in the last Battles fought against the Enemies Fleets There shall be given to Lieutenant General Admiral de Ruiter a Letter of Constitution of 6000 Livers annual Rent to the Lieutenant Admirals Van Nes and Tromp 4000 Livers each to the Widows and Heirs of the Vice-Admirals de Liefde Sweers and Schram an Annual Allowance of 2000 Livers each to the Rear Admirals John van Nes and de Haan 1000 Livers each as likewise to the Widow and Heirs of Rear Admiral Vlug a like Letter of Constitution of 100 Livers Annual Pension These three successive Advantages the Dutch Fleet had gotten over the English and French quite ruined all the Conquests the French King had made by Land with as much Rapidity as Success for thereby the Coasts