to the Republick of England a compensation towards the indemnifying them for the losses they had sustained by the Arming of the Holland Fleet and by the attempt they had lately made upon them of which the particularities should be reported at large in time and place 2. That presently after the payment of the said sum the Parliament should surcease all Acts of Hostility against the Hollanders and all Ships seized since the last troubles should be released 3. That these two Conditions being first agreed to and put in Execution they would proceed to a Treaty of Alliance which should straightly Vnite the two Republicks together render their interests common and their Friendship perpetual and inviolable and that for this effect the Parliament would be always Ready to accept all just and resonable ways proposed to them The Ambassador of the States being astonish'd at such an answer demanded on the 6th of July a new Conference wherein he Represented That their High and Mightinesses had been obliged to make an Extroardinary armament and to be at Excessive Expences for the Reasons he had already mentioned that their Subjects had suffered considerable damages by the taking of a great many Holland and French Ships that the States and their Merchant Subjects still felt the losses that had been caused to them that if they would needs stand upon the point of indemnifying they needed only to compare the losses of the one Nation with those of the other to be convinced that the States General had been the greatest sufferers which would be easy to demonstrate provided the business were not spun out to too great a length by an over Captious discussion That if the said Commissioners would on their side make a just and Reasonable estimation It would then plainly appear that the true intention of their High and Mightinesses is to terminate things by an amicable way As concerning the Treaty of Confederacy between the two Republicks and the mutual assistance they might afford one another upon occasion in case their common Enemies should go about to attempt upon their liberty the States other Ambassadors had sufficiently before explain'd the intentions of their Mrs. upon that Subject being always ready to pursue the said Treaty if it would be consented to That if the said Commissioners should think fit to render that Treaty more ample and Authentick it would be a very agreeable thing to him and that he passionately desired they would please to give him all possible instruction imaginable thereupon That moreover he thought it would be highly important if not very necessary that orders should be given to the two Fleets not to come near one another and that they might not come to any new Engagements as 't was to be feared they otherwise would And that besides that he insisted that they would without delay release the Ships that were seized that so their Spirits being once calmed the two Nations might be â—indly disposed of themselves and without any Constraint to the concluding of a firm solid and unmoveable Alliance that in fine He waited with the greatest impatience for a favourable answer to all he had jâ—st then proposed that so being animated with the hopes of a happy success he might employ his industry with the States to endeavour to find out proper means to effect an Accommodation that he desired it the more earnestly because he was obliged to obey the Orders of his Mrs. The Council of State made answer The Answer of the Council of State that having maturely Examined the writing delivered by Mr. de Heemsted Ambassador Extroardinary from the States General of the Vnited Provinces into the hands of the Commissioners and having found nothing in it that answered clearly or directly to the last proposition made to his Excellency by the Parliament the Council demanded of him a speedy and positive answer at least to the first Article which being granted they would apply themselves to the fixing a moderate and Reasonable sum that so after that they might proceed to the Execution of the second Article by the restitution of the Ships seized and the suspension of all acts of Hostility And that as for the third Article it should be taken care of afterward more at Leisure The 7th of July the Sieur de Heemsted demanded another Conference in pursuance of the orders he had received from his Masters adding that if the Republick of England would not openly declare themselves he would demand his Audience of Leave and that with so much the more Justice because instead of an Accommodation with which they had flatter'd themselves the Parliament had given orders to their Fleet to destroy the Dutch Herring Fishery and to sink all Holland Ships whilst to the Northward they were watching for our Ships that were returning from the Indies He represented therefore in that Conference That whilst he was busied in answering the Writing that was delivered him by Mr. Oliver Fleming from the Council of State he had with much displeasure been informed that the English Fleet was put to Sea in order to some enterprize That he had likewise received Letters by which the States his Masters had ordered him that since he had used all his endeavours to no purpose to obtain a Cessation of acts of Hostility he should demand his Audience of Leave in order to return with all diligence into Holland to give the States an account of his Negotiation And therefore in Obedience to the Orders of his Mrs. he damanded he might be permitted to take his leave of the Council of State the next day and might for his Transportation make use of the man of War commanded by Captain John Verbaaf in which he came into England That the said Captain might be provided with a Passport that he might not be molested in his way by the Parliaments Ships Adding that because the other Ambassadours had signified to him that they had likewise order to retire he desired they might be permitted to take their Audience of Leave at the same time and to provide themselves with Ships necessary to transport their persons and Equipages The Council of State answered That they were obliged first to make their Report to the Parliament who were to sit the next day or the Tuseday following after the Memorial was delivered from the States Ambassador Extraordinary to the Commissioners And that till then they could give no other Answer to the said Ambassador But that on the 8th of July Mr de Heemsted presented to the Council of State two Memorials The first of which was conceived in these Terms The Ambassadour Extraordinary of the States Mr. Heemsted's first Memorial having seen the Answer given by the Council to his last Proposition has thought fit to declare a new that he intended as soon as he came back into Holland in consequence of the Overture made to him for that purpose to apply his whole endeavours to find out some proper means for the Reuniting the two
the present Treaty it might make it impracticable to come to a conclusion of a Renovation of the Ancient Amity that has always been between the two Nations the States my Mrs. judg'd it necessary I should come hither because having been always present at all their deliberations by reason of my Employment I was best able to Represent to the Commonwealth of England the naked truth and all the Circumstances of that Action as they have been related to them in order to the rasing out all suspicions that might be capable to distemper or destroy the good intelligence and true Amity that is between the two Nations and remove all obstacles that might hinder the conclusion of the Treaty already began Moreover I protest and declare in the presence of the Parliament of the Republick of England by vertue of my Credential Letters and in the Name of the States General my Mrs. that they never had any thoughts to attempt any thing or give order that any thing should be attempted that might give any just cause of Umbrage to the Sovereign power of this Commonwealth to break or weaken the Union and good Correspondence that has been so long cultivated between the two Republicks or under what pretence soever to sow any discord between them But rather on the contrary I can say that the States have been moved by their own inclinations and by the sentiments of a real Friendship carefully to study out all that might conduce to the hastning the conclusion of a strict and inviolable Alliance between the two Nations It 's true a very considerable Fleet was Equip'd in Holland but at the same time there 's no body but knows the States were forced so to do by the continual complaints of their Subjects and that they gave notice of it to the Parliament And they published beforehand that this arming was for no other end than for the liberty and security of Commerce which was much endamag'd and interrupted by many very sensible Losses the Subjects of the United Provinces daily suffered of their Ships and Goods and certainly it is but natural to make use of the means that force and necessity put into our hands to protect oppresed innocence But they thoughr of nothing less than a fight to create new troubles between the two Nations and Revive the disputes that were already terminated But things being so and there hapning by accident a fierce Battle between the Fleets of the two Nations the States General have thought fit to Communicate to the Parliament of England an exact and faithfull Relation of all that passed such as they have received from their Admiral authorized by the Testimony of all the Captains and other persons worthy of Credit namely that Admiral Tromp came towards the Fleet of this Republick more by necessity than out of any premeditated design and that after he had paid his Civilities to Major Bourn as he was pursuing his voyage he fell into the presence of Admiral Blake before he was aware that presently he ordered an advice Boat to be made ready to send some Officers of the Fleet to Compliment him but that Blake answering him with Civilities of a quite contrary nature let flie all his Guns at him and that then Tromp discharg'd his more to defend himself than to offend the Aggressor This was the cause of an Engagement in which the Capricious humour of Fortune had more share than any design of Council premeditated and swell'd up with Ambition so that it being begun about a mistaken point of Honour and not continued by our men out of any principle of animosity the States General pray the Commonwealth of England to be perswaded they had no hand in that Action but to take it for an Event of pure chance and of the inconstancy of Worldly affairs and that accordingly they would be pleased to recall their Orders and Commissions and to let all Acts of Hostility cease that now disturb Commerce and the States on their part are ready to consent to the same and always to employ all possible means to facilitate an Accommodation They are very sensible that all Christendom is deeply concerned in so great an affair as this and especially the reformed Churches of all Europe who all equally wish and desire that our troubles may be stifled in their Birth as being perswaded that discord arising between Neighbouring States of the same Religion may not only draw after it the Ruin of that Commerce that makes them Flourish but likewise awaken the drooping hopes of both their secret and open Enemies who would not fail to take occasion thereupon to foment some new Plots in some Province or other of this Commonwealth which would afterwards break out and so passing from one to another we should see our States become the bloody Theater of a War To prevent therefore and put a stop to the Course of so great mischiefs I have Orders without further delay to Represent to you and employ all my industry that some assur'd means may be agreed upon on both sides to accommodate the differences about what has past and for the taking such just Measures for the future that there may never happen the like accidents again between the two Fleets and that so thereby the Greatness and Glory of the Parliament of England may be secured from the danger of all sorts of attempts against it Since then the States General openly declare to the Parliament the ardent passion they have to see the two Nations perfectly United together and their differences entirely composed and that the propositions on both sides may at last terminate in a strict Alliance all the favour I desire of the Parliament is that they would please to give order to their Commissioners and to the Council of State to give me speeddy Audience and to labour joyntly with me for the Conclusion of the Treaty in order to terminate the principal business that is the foundation of my Negotiation as well as of that of the other Ambassadors In extraordinary of the States In the mean while I acknowledge my self infinitely obliged to the Parliament that they have been pleased to grant a Ship to Mr. Nieuport to repass the Sea and go into Holland I will add here that being a Member of the State he has had order to remain with me to assist me with his Council till my return which I dare be confident the Parliament will not take ill and that they will be pleased favourably to accept my most humble services which I present them Mr. de Heemsted going the next day to the Council of State Mr. de Heemsted's Speech to the Council of State made them the following Speech which he pronounced in French Since it has pleased my Lorâ—s the States General of the United Provinces besides the Ambassadors they have already here to send me extraordinarily in the same Quality to the Parliament of the Republick of England to whom I had the Honour yesterday in a
THE LIFE OF Cornelius Van Tromp Lieutenant-Admiral of Holland and Westfriesland CONTAINING Many Remarkable Passages relating to the WAR between ENGLAND and HOLLAND As also the SEA-FIGHTS AND Other Memorable Actions of this Great Man from the Year 1650. to the Time of his Death LONDON Printed by J. Orme for R. Clavel J. Sturton and A. Bosvile in Fleetstreet and J. Cater in Holbourn MDCXCVII THE Author's Preface THE World is so earnest after the Evenâ—s of the Present War that it has hardly Leisure enough to read the several Accounts which are continually printed on that Subject And this takes up all our Thoughts so much that we have scarce Time to reflect on past Transactions I must confess we have Reason enough for this for what is past cannot effect us much because it can neither add to our Misery nor better our Condition But the War wherein Europe is now engag'd is of so great a Consequence that according to the Turn of Affairs every one must have their Hopes or Fears either to expect a Happy Change in their Fortunes or to dread the contrary Yet tho' we now seem wholly taken up with the present there are however some Histories of former Times capable to excite the Curiosity of the Publick because what is past may enable us to argue on what 's to come and to draw Consequences accordingly The following History of Van Tromp is of this kind and what the States have perform'd under the Conduct of that Great Man and sometimes by themselves and against Two formidable Powers we may reasonably conclude that now since the said States and England are united nothing can be able to oppose them at Sea provided they will be but unanimous and act in Consort The manner of the Deliverance of the United Provinces in 1672. from the Slavery wherewith they were threatned next to the Favour and Assistance of Heaven through the wise Conduct and Valour of the Prince of Orange now King of England and by the Victories which the Admirals of this State have obtain'd over both the Fleets of France and England then joyn'd together gives us very good Reason likewise to conclude that there is nothing we may not at this Day expect from these two Potent States since they have both put themselves under the Conduct of that Prince who commands their Armies conjunctly and since their Naval Forces are united against the Common Enemy We are therefore persuaded that this Work will not now be unseasonable but will have the good Fortune to be well received by the variety of Events of which we have hitherto had but a very imperfect Account because that few Historians have made it their Business to treat at large of Matters relating to the Sea Herein you will find exact Relations of many bloody Engagements perform'd in most Seas and which have been often follow'd by Descents on the Territories of those that have had the worsâ— of it Herein you will see how Victory has been disputed between the most powerful as well as most numerous Fleets and the greatest Admirals that ever fought on the Ocean In a Word you will have a full Account of what England and the Provinces have hitherto been capable of executing at Sea and when they have been the single Combatants But we will leave the Reader his full Liberty to make what Reflections he shall think fit and content our selves with the Performance of a Faithful Historian by giving you a plain Relation of Matters of most Importance in the Times we shall mention and particularly of what concerns the Great Cornelius Van Tromp whose Life we here present you We have also been oblig'd by the bye to touch a little upon the most remarkable Actions of the Famous Martin Van Tromp and several other Admirals whose Memories will always be dear to Holland on the Account of the great Reputation they acquir'd as well as for their Zeal shewn for the Service of their Country It will also be necessary to acquaint you That we have not been able to preserve both the History contain'd and the Succession of Years entire to avoid relating several Events which seem to have but an indirect Tendency to Cornelius Van Tromp's Life because we would fill up the Chasms wherein he was not employ'd nor commanded the Naval Forces of this State in chief or else was in the Service of the King of Denmark And to make the History the more acceptable by Variety we have inserted the Epitaphs of most of the Hero's of this Republic whose Names we had occasion to Mention as so many Monuments which contain the most important Actions of their Lives and which are not to be found elsewhere whereby the Care which the United Provinces have taken to reward their Merit and make their Glorious Memory Immortal will be sufficiently evident We have also added the most considerable Letters which the several Admirals have written as so many eminent Proofs to authenticate the Actions we relate and which will shew that we have made this our inviolable Rule and Standard Not to write any thing with Flattery or Falshood but to give a Body of Truth to this Work THE LIFE OF Cornelius Tromp Lieutenant Admiral of Holland and of West-Friseland The First BOOK THERE is no Flourishing State in the World but must acknowledge it self to be supported chiefly by two main firm and solid Pillars I mean 1650. Wise Ministers of State and Great and Experienc'd Commanders who Constitute the Primary Cause of it's Grandure and Exaltation The former of these by their admirable Skill form out into Regular designs in the Councel Chamber those Secret Maxims that Policy Dictates to every Nation as the most adapted to their peculiar Genius and condition whereby they may best Govern themselves grow powerfull and become formidable to their Neighbours and the others are those Hero's that in order to put in Execution what was Resolved in the Cabal of State couragiously lead on the Armies fight the Enemies and gloriously obtain Victories all which duly considered what honours ought not to be rendred to the Memory of those great men after their Deaths Certainly it is not only just to give them in some sort a new life by the Recital of their noble Exploits but it is likewise of great use to others to render them Recommendable to Prosterity by a History of their worthy Actions since 't is the surest and most Expeditious means to move those who read it to a like Course of Vertue and to excite them to follow the Steps of those Illustrious Hero's that have generously Sacrificed their own private repose and spilt their best Blood for the Glory of their Country 'T was upon this consideration that the Greeks and Romans not to speak of the Nations that preceeded them took such great care to commit to writing the lives of their Brave men and were so accurate to Paint them out to us in such lively and natural Colours that even to this
two Fleets came all on a sudden to be Engag'd in a general Battle In the mean while Major Bourn being come out of the Downs with a Squadron of 12 men of War or Frigats whereof the first carried from 60 to 70 pieces of Cannon and the others from 38 to 50 came and fell thundring upon our Rear So the Fight being begun at 4 in the afternoon lasted till 9 and was not broken off but by the obscurity of the Night Then we made out into the Main Sea and the Ships of both Fleets tack't about towards their Admirals to refit themselves We remained all the Night hanging lights out in every Ship The 30th in the Morning we discovered the English Fleet to the Leeward making towards Dover We have lost two of our Ships that were in our Rear viz. Those Commanded by the Captains Tuynemans of Middleburg and Sipke Fokkes of Amsterdam this last having had all his Masts shot do vnclose by the Board The Master and other Officers reported to us that they were taken by three of the Parliaments Ships about 9 a Clock at Night who after they had taken out of her the Captain and Lieutenant with about 14 or 15 men put a great many English on board her but they being afraid she would sink under them after they had Plunder'd her quitted her They reported likewise that Captain Tuyneman's Ship was taken an hour before theirs We design now to Cruise along the Channel to seek out our Merchant Ships coming from the Streights and to Convoy them all together home to our own Country At the same time Tromp dispatcht away an Express into England with the Copy of his Letter to the States to be delivered to our Ambassadours there And to make it appear more Authentick he caus'd it to be sign'd by all the Officers of the Fleet. But it happen'd that their High and Mightinesses Ambassadors having left London because of the thick Fogs that usually infect the Air there were gone then to Reside at Chelsey and the Express being stopt Tromp's dispatches were not deliver'd to them The English Admiral Ship leaking on all sides and very much shatter'd had much ado to get into the Downs There Blake Buried his Dead in the Number of which were his Master and several other Persons of Note to whom he caused very particular honours to be rendred which done he put Pen to Paper to inform the Parliament of all that had passed Whereof here follows the Copy Most Honourable Lords Admiral Blake's Letter to the Paliamâ—nt I have written to you the present dispatches to inform you of what past yesterday between the two Fleets Upon the advice Major Bourn gave me that Tromp appear'd toward the Souther-sand with a Fleet of 40 sail I used all possible diligence to get up with him Yesterday we discovered him below Dover Rode and being come within 3 miles of him Tromp unmoored with an Easterly Wind which made us think he endeavoured to avoid us because of the dispute about the Flag About two hours after the Dutch Fleet changing it's course tackt about and stood right towards us Tromp being at the head of this motion We put our selves into a line of Battle not doubting but Tromp's intention was to Engage When the two Fleets were come within Musket shot of one another I made a shot at his Flagg which I Repeated three times After the third shot Tromp let flie at us a whole broad side In the mean while Major Bourn coming out of the Downs brought a new Squadron of men of War to the fight which ceased not till Night put an end to it and then our Ships not being able to keep the Sea any longer because of the great quantity of Masts Sails and Cordage we had lost it was Resolv'd by the advice of all the Captains to come to an Anchor at 3 miles off the Ness where we kept hard at work all night in Refitting our Ships The next Morning at break of day we discover'd the Dutch Fleet about 4 miles from us making towards the Coast of France We Judged fit in a Councel of War to keep the Weather gage of them to prevent a surprize in case they should Charge us again that so at the worst we might have nothing else to do but to cut the Cables of our Anchors As yet we have not been able to discover whither they are steering nor what damage they have sustain'd But however we are assur'd that one of their Ships is sunk and that we have taken another from them of 30 guns with two Captains The first of these Ships having her Main Mast shot by the Board and leaking on all sides Captain Laarsons was fain to quit her We had in this fight 6 killed 9 or 10 Mortally wounded and 25 less dangerously among which number are my Master one of his Mates and some other under Officers The Admiral Ship received in her sides and masts about 70 great shot and in her sails and Rigging almost an infinite Number I having been engaged with the Main body of the Enemies Fleet for about four full hours Notwithstanding which our happiness is to be admired at that we received no more damage and we have reason to hope that the protection of God will favour our Arms if a War should once break out between the two Nations The Hollanders are the Aggressours and watch all occasions to come and affront us and Brave us upon our own Coasts as Experience has newly shewn us The News of this Fight being brought to England so wrought upon the Mobb that they made an insurrection and went all in a fury to Chelsey where the Dutch Ambassadors were lodged with design to have sacrificed them to their Resentments if the Parliament had not provided before hand against the mischief by sending them a body of Horse to Guard all the passages about their lodgings with strict command to let no body go in or out And besides preventing by that means any disorder they designed by the same Expedient to cut off all ways of Correspondence from the Ambassadors In the mean while there was nothing to be heard but Complaints and Murmurings from all parts For the Country people in Kent and Suffolk were so alarmed at this news that many of them deserted their houses and others came and Complain'd to the Parliament Representing to them what great danger their Coasts were as being the most exposed to an Invasion and putting them in fear that the Hollanders would come and Ravage the whole Country Upon which Oliver Cromwell then General of all the Forces of England and who was the Primum mobile of that Infant-Republick immediately set out towards the Maritime places as well to appease the peoples disturbed Spirits as to inform himself of the particulars of the fight Some Regiments were likewise detach'd from the Army and order'd to march towards the Sea Coasts which were Quarter'd at Greenwich Gravesend Sandwich and Dover Cromwell
notice it was an Extraordinary Signal and Judging from thence of the importance of the business might return answer thereto each of them likewise with a Gun Extraordinary after which every one of them should be obliged to make to the place whence the first Gun was fired that all the Captains of the Fleet meeting together on board the Admiral might take such Resolutions as should be most convenient for the time and for the good of the State From which Articles and Instructions of Tromp to his Officers tho' the English pretended to draw invincible proofs that the Hollanders were the Aggressors in the late bloody attempt upon their Fleet yet the Dutch on the contrary pretended it was visible from thence that their main Aim was only to secure their Trade and defend the Glory of their Nation in case they were attackt but that they had not the least design to be Aggressors against the English After this Lieutenant Admiral Tromp whilst he was Cruising below Bullen writ a Letter to Admiral Blake dated the 2d of June in which he intreated him to release the two Capt. of his he had made Prisoners and who were already carried to London and to order the Restitution of Captain Tuyneman's Ship But Blake as yet red hot with Resentment for what was so newly past between them and being much surprized that after the Rough Compliments between them in that Rencounter Tromp should presume to Write to him upon such a Subject as that in very great indignation made him the following Answer SIR NOthing ever surpriz'd me more than yours of the 2d of June last in that Blake's answer to Tromp tho you affect with so much vanity to pass for a Man of Honour yet 't is no way visible that you maintain that Character by any of your Actions The Cruel attempt you lately made against the Parliament of England's Fleet whose ruin you had conspired is an evident proof of this That Fleet I say to which you were in duty obliged to pay your Humblest Respects and Submissions since you have not refused to pay them in several other Rencounters That Act of Hostility you have so lately committed is so much the more Criminal because there was no occasion given you from England to engage you to proceed to such an extremity since you were pleased to do it in a time when your Ambassadors were flattering our Commonwealth with new hopes of Peace and Union and pretended to solicit with much earnestness a speedy conclusion of a Treaty of Mutual Alliance and Confederation That is the Brave Exploit upon which at present you found your glory and for which you frame an unjust Apology as pretending you did nothing else but defend your self But God in whom we put our greatest hopes having made your designs serve to your own destruction we have taken some of your Ships which you now are pleased to redemand with as much confidence as if the action lately â—ommitted had been no act of Hostility as it appears in your Writings by your affecting to give it another name In fine I thought not fit to give you any other answer but this That I am perswaded you will find the Parliament of England very ill satisfied with your Conduct because they cannot but regard with horror the Innocent Blood of their Subjects that has been spilt and on the other side that after all you will find your self constrained always to give them the marks of an entire submission In the mean while the States Ambassadors were at London endeavouring to Renew the Negotiation for a Treaty and having for that purpose demanded Audience of the Parliament it was granted them It was their business then to endeavour to appease their exasperated Spirits and thereby to put a timely stop to the dismal consequences of the War that was ready to burst out between these two Formidable Powers which was a Task of no small difficulty However they employed their industry and parts in it to the best advantage they could and accordingly on that Subject made the following Speech to the Parliament Most Honourable Lords WE expected nothing less than the fatal disaster which has lately hapned The Dutch Ambassadors Audience of the Parliament and their Speech to them And if what Publick Fame says of a Sea fight between the two Fleets prove true this disgrace is so much the greater and more afflicting to us because our Men are lookt upon as the Authors of it All those stories that are whisper'd about concerning this matter are already lookt upon by the people as the mournful presages of the ruine of two States that have hitherto been ever linkt together in a strict Alliance and now by this fatal blow see themselves at the eve of a Bloody War We are so sensibly concern'd at all the false Rumours that are spread abroad to the disadvantage of our Nation that we will call God to witness that the States General were so far from contributing to the late unhappy recounter that they had not the least knowledge of it and desire nothing so much as Vnion Peace and an inviolable Friendship with England However 't is not impertinent to the matter in question to let you know that it may be observ'd from the Letter written to us by the Admiral of Holland that the true Cause of that action was very different from what 't is reported to have been And what is more Tromp declares in that Letter in express terms and he repeats it three times that he had not received any other Orders from the States than only to defend the Merchant Ships belonging to the States from the oppression of those who might be capable to disturb the freedom of their Commerce and to Cruise upon the Frontiers of the State without going far from Ostend and Newport from whence 't is as clear as the day That the States General of the Vnited Provinces never had any thoughts to attempt any thing that might be capable to break the strict union that has always been between England and Holland And if any thing has hapned contrary to the sincerity of their intentions they who shall be found to have violated the Rules and passed the Bounds that were prescribed them ought to be Responsible for it According to the Orders given us by their High and Mightinesses to endeavour a Treaty of Alliance we presented some days ago to your Commissioner a Memorial in which we propose means not only for composing the differences about Commerce but likewise for the securing of it and rendering it more flourishing And we desire nothing else at present but to see them brought to a speedy and happy conclusion And indeed who could believe that a Treaty that is at present the firmest support of good and well disposed people and the most solid foundation of the Reformation should be interrupted by the capricious humour of a few ill intentioned persons It is a Natural Law acknowledged by all the World
of the contest very moderate towards them and wholly inclined to lay by some gentle expedient the Storm that was newly risen but yet at the bottom he was of the same mind with the Parliament or to speak more properly 't was he that underhand spurred them on to Revenge and he that perswaded them to employ all their Forces to destroy the Hollanders The Ambassadors having then discovered the Parliaments design and that they were fitting out a formidable Fleet to Sea on which were to be embarkt 4000 Soldiers resolved to present a second Memorial to the Council of State which was conceived in these Terms The Memorial presented to the Council of State by the Dutch Ambassadors The Ambassadours of the States General of the United Provinces having protested on Monday last before this August Council and called God himself to witness their Innocence and the Justice of their Cause declaring that the Fight between the two Fleets did not happen by any premeditated design of their High and Mightinesses They have judged it expedient for the better clearing of that point to put into your hands a Copy of Tromp's Letter by which this Republick may evidently see that their High and Mightinesses gave him no other Commission than to cruise on the Frontier Seas of their own Dominions without passing any farther for fear of giving jealousie to their Neighbours And therefore the said Ambassadors come again to day to give you new assurances upon their having received by yesterdays Post all the informations given in from the 22d to the 29th of the last month New stile concerning the Battle in Question by which it appears still more clearly That the States had no hand in that action directly or indirectly declaring themselves ready to conclude a strict Alliance that may be capable to unite the two Republicks by eternal and inviolable friendship It is certain That is their last and most sincere intention Moreover the said Ambassadors pray the Council of State to be pleased to give them a speedy Answer such as they in their prudence shall think most proper in the present juncture to prevent the mischievous consequences of some more dismal Accident Neither will it be unseasonable to acquaint the Council that the Sieur Newport sent from their High and Mightinesses to their Ambassadors for business concerning their Negotiation is upon his departure to repass the Sea if the Council of State will please to grant him a Passport as we pray them to do and that he may have leave to chuse one of the States Ships that is now in the Thames or elsewhere The Sieur Newport having expedited his affairs waited only for a Passport to be gone but he found great difficulty to obtain it which retarded his departure for several days He got at last out of London with much ado and came to Gravesend thinking to embark there But at that time the English by shewing fresh marks of their resentment rekindled those flames which were thought to be half extinguisht and made appear by their slighting the instances of the Ambassadors and by new acts of Hostility that all those troubles would soon degenerate into an open War The Channel was full of their Privateers who took without any distinction all manner of Ships that came in their way without excepting even those that belonged to France or Spain All the Dutch Ships that were in the Thames were likewise stopt the 13th of June and their Captains went to Chelsey to make their Complaints of it to the Ambassadors who were extremely surprized at all these new attempts and thought it thereupon necessary to present yet a Third Memorial more which they did the very same day in these following Terms Another Memorial presented by the Dutch Ambassador to the Council of State We having on the 3d and 6th of this Month clearly made appear to the Council of State as well by Writing as word of Mouth taking God that knows the Hearts of Men to witness That the Bloody Battle that was lately fought between the two Fleets of the two Republicks hapned without the knowledge and against the will of the United Provinces so are we more and more confirmed both by Letters and Expresses that our Masters have been sensibly grieved at this Combat and that farther upon the Advices we have given them they have applied themselves with all care imaginable to seek out Remedies that may be able to quash all these growing Troubles in their Birth and timely stop the blood of so dangerous a wound 'T was for that effect they have called a solemn and General Assembly of all the Members of the State in which we not at all doubt but with the assistance of Heaven they will find out the true means to renew again that ancient Friendship and Union that has always reigned between the two Nations and that they will remove all the difficulties that seem at present to render them irreconcileable which will be an assured advance towards the Conclusion of the Treaty already begun Their High and Mightinesses desire it with so much the more Passion and Earnestness because it so highly concerns the Welfare and repose of the two Republicks and will effectually stop the fountains of Christian Blood that has been shed This is what at present flatters the hopes of so many Nations and especially of the Protestants so that we intreat you both by the Sacred Bond of Religion that unites us together and by the Sweet Liberty we equally enjoy That nothing may be done with too much precipitation for fear the Remedies that may be afterward judg'd proper for our reconciliation coming too late may prove ineffectual We also pray you as soon as possible without delay to answer favourably to our last demand which we solicit with so much the more earnestness because we are informed that the Ships and Mariners of our Nation are taken and stopt by your orders on the High Seas or in your Harbours the one by pure force and the other after Fighting The Parliament at last answered them in such a manner as might well be expected after what had lately passed The Parliaments answer to the States Ambassadors And here follows the Tenour of their Answer The Parliament of the Commonwealth of England reflecting upon all the proofs of benevolence and sincere Friendship they have often given to the States General of the United Provinces even from the first beginning of the troubles of this Kingdom having omitted nothing of what might conduce to the maintaining a perfect Correspondence between them and it and render their union much more strict than ever before find themselves at present hainously offended by an unexpected attempt which is an act of Hostility committed upon the Coasts of England against the Fleet of the Republick after a mature deliberation and examination of the Writings which their Excellencies the Ambassadors of the United Provinces have put into our Hands we have thought fit to make them the
our ancient Friendship and the Law of Nations practised among Christians We hope the Justice of the Soveraign Republick of England will not refuse us a demand so equitable as this Moreover we Implore the Protection of Heaven and beseech God the Author of Peace that he will please of his Goodness to inspire the Parliament of this Republick with such Sentiments as may induce them to a Speedy Reconciliation with the States of the United Provinces for the maintenance of the Reformation whose firmest support and most solid foundation has always been Peace in the Bosom of which it Flourishes and quietly enjoys Prosperity and which on the contrary if our Troubles should continue any longer would see it self brought to an inevitable Destruction and plunged into the greatest Miseries We still pray God to be pleased to avert the Course of the Mischiefs and Calamities that accompany War and to pour forth his precious Blessings upon the two Republicks And as we are ordered to retire forthwith into Holland we shall accordingly take leave of this Illustrious Assembly with all imaginable thanks for the kindnesses we have received from them in full confidence that they will not refuse us the things we have already demanded of them and which are every where granted to Ambassadors in regard to their Character for the security of their Persons Lastly we recommend to you the Dutch Merchants residing at London or elsewhere within this Kingdom that their Goods and Persons may be taken into the Protection of the Parliament These were the steps made by the States Geneneral of the United Provinces to prevent a Rupture with England by which all the world may judge how great the Power of that new hatcht State was tho scarcely yet fledg'd to make them so Courted by a Nation that at that juncture more fear'd than lov'd them and how great and presumptuous their pride was too in refusing such fair offers and venturing to engage in a War with so potent an Enemy as the States of Holland when their own settlement at home was so unsecure But the flames were blown up on both sides by the secret friends of the Stuarts and by the Emissaries of those Nations that envied to both people both their Religion and above all their formidable Power at Sea and their flourishing and universally extended Commerce by some of whom out of the same malicious principles the same fire that was but rak't up for a while in Embers was rekindled and set a burning with a more pernicious violence than ever to the manifest increase of a Third Power that tho before it durst scarce peep out at Sea has since appeared a formidable Enemy even upon their own Element to those Redoubted Masters of the Ocean and has had the insolence for a while by its dextrous managing of intestine Factions among us to Brave both our Fleets till like Capaneus defying Jove its Marine Forces were at length by the magnanimous Russel and his Valiant Copartners the Dutch Admirals Thunder-struck and in a manner quite driven off the usurped Main daring never since to appear on it otherwise than only as Rovers and sculking Pirates On the 11th of July that is to say four days after the English Fleet set sail for the North Sea to go and destroy the Dutch Fleet of Herring Busses and to watch for their Ships coming back from the Indies the Ambassadors departed London The Dutch Ambassadors depart and on the 13th near Schouwen met with Lieutenant Admiral Tromp to whom Mr. de Heemsted gave a Memorial containing an account of the Forces of England he likewise informed him that Admiral Ayschew who but a little before had given chase to a Merchant Fleet of about 30 or 40 sail between Callis and Swartenes homeward bound from St. Hubes and Portugal was then in the Downs with a Squadron of 21 Men of War where he might be easily attackt and Beaten Tromp having received Express Orders from the States who found themselves obliged to make use of Reprizals not to spair the English any longer but to do them all the mischief he could resolved to go and attack Ayschew Vice Admiral Evertsz had the Command of the Van with a Squadron of 21 Ships of War Lieutenant Admiral Tromp Commanded the main Body of the Fleet consisting of 30 Ships and Rear Admiral Florisz the Rear composed of 28 Men of War But there happening a Calm and after that a contrary Wind it was impossible for them to execute that project Tromp therefore steer'd his Course towards the North in search of Blake Ayschew kept close in the Downs whilst Blake with a Fleet of between 66 and 68 Sail having discovered before Boeknes the Herring-Fleet under the Convoy of 12 Ships or Frigats carrying from 22 to 30 Guns caused them to be attackt by a Squadron of 20 men of War that composed his Vanguard The Fight was sharp and lasted above three whole hours till at last the weaker was forced to give way to the stronger Captain Venhuysen and all the Herring Busses excepting four fled away Ten of them were taken whereof two sunk after they had made all the resistance imaginable and another was at last quitted by the Enemy Blake joyned five of them to his Fleet and sent three of them to Inverness with his wounded Men but those of the Dutch were conducted to the Texel The States to Varnish over their Arms with all the Colour of Justice they could publisht a Manifesto setting forth the Reasons why they had declared War against the English and they did the same on their side against the Hollanders We shall repeat neither of them here because they are to be found in several places and that 't is easie to guess by what has been said what were the contents of them And because our design is to insist only upon relating the Bloody Battels that were fought between these two potent Republicks and in which the Hero's of this History the two Tromps Father and Son had the most share The English had already seized upon the Isle of Inseith where the Hollanders used to water and these latter advancing towards the Coasts of Scotland arrived near Fulo and Fairhill where they espied Blake who was watching for our Ships coming back from the Indies The two Fleets were disposing themselves for a Fight when in the night between the 5th and 6th of August the Skie grew dark by little and little and soon after there appeared certain presages of a violent Tempest Tromp distressed by a dreadful Tempest For the wind having long been shifting about turned at last to the N. N. West and blew with so much impetuosity that our Sails were all rent and torn in pieces and the Waves rowl'd through them and so went and spent themselves against the Rocks of Hitland throwing their Fome up to the very Heaven Thus the Fleet being as 't were buried by the violence of the Sea in most horrible Abysses rose out of
of so great a man Upon which his Figure is placed lying on his back with his Arms and Armour having his head piece at his Feet Below the Tomb upon a Table of White Marble His Tomb and Epitaphs there is represented a description of the Battle which we have just now related And underneath are written in Golden Letters upon black Marble the following verses composed by that famous Dutch Poet J. V. Vondel Hier Legt in 't graf van eer de Dappre van Galen Die eerst ging buit op buit Castilien ashaalen En met en leeuwenhert naby't Toskaner strand De Britten heeft verjaagd veroverd en verbrand Which may be thus Englished The Stout de Galen here in honours bed is laid Fam'd for the Rich Booties he on the Spaniards made Who with heart undaunted attackt the English Fleet And near the Tuscan shore gave them a sore defeat And took and burnt their Ships to serve him for a light Down to the Gloomy shades and so bid us good night Above the Tomb there is an Oval Table of Black Marble flourisht all round with Flaggs Standards Streamers Pikes and all the Arms used in Sea-Fights And thereupon is Engraven the following Latin Epitaph in Letters of Gold Generosissimo Heroi Johanni a Galen Essensi Qui ob res saepe fortiter feliciter gestas Sexies uno anno Duinkerkanorum Praedatoriam Navem captam a Barbaris opima spolia Reportata Ordinum Classi in Mari Mediterraneo praefectus memorabili praelio ad Livornam Deo Auxiliante Anglorum navibus captis fugatis incendio submersione deletis Commercium cum dicti Maris Accolis restituit Idibus Martii An. 1653 altero pede truncatus nono die post victoriam Annos natus 48 obit ut in secula per Gloriam viveret Illustris praepot Foederat Belgii Ordinum Decreto Nob. Pot. Senatus Archithalas qui est Amstelodami M. H. P. Which we have rendred in English thus To the most Generous Hero John de Galen of Essen WHO for his many couragious and successful Exploits for having in one year taken six Dunkirk Privatiers and brought away many rich spoils from the Barbarians being afterwards made Admiral of the States Fleet in the Mediterranean having in a memorable Battle near Legorn by the help of God taken put to flight burnt and sunk the Ships of the English restored Commerce again with the inhabitants of those Coasts on the 15th of March 1653. And having lost one of his Legs he expir'd on the 9th day after the victory aged 48 years And that he might live by his Glorious Fame to all succeeding Ages By order of the Most Illustrious and Mighty States of the Vnited Netherlands the Senate of the Admiralty of Amsterdam have erected to him this Monument When Bodley was got back to London Appleton charged him with the loss of the Battel with so much the more grounds of probability because the Captains of the States Fleet that were returned to Amsterdam gave a noble Testimony of the Bravery of this latter The Subject of Appleton's Complaint was That Bodley had not performed his promise but had basely left him to be a Victim to his Enemies but that difference was not decided The Council of England being grown somewhat more sensible of the complaints made by the people of Great Britain The English Council incline to Peace but hindred by Cromwel Cromwel's Letter to dissolve the Rump Parliament upon the Subject of the differences that had caused the War with the Hollanders began to be a little more inclined to Peace But Cromwel's intrigues defeated their purposes he out of a pretended zeal to the Common Good taking upon him to assemble a new Parliament holding frequent Conferences for that purpose with the Chief Members of the Council of War assembled at St. James's And in effect pursuant to the Resolutions taken there he was so daring as to write a Letter soon after to Dissolve the Parliament which was publisht throughout all the three Kingdoms The substance of it imported That the great prosperities that England had enjoyed for some years past by its Conquests and the Battles which its Armies had won for the security of the people of the three Kingdoms being a very sensible token of the Blessing of God they had been guilty of so hainous an ingratitude as not to behave themselves thankfully to him for the same For that wickedness and all manner of Vices were so increased that they were seen to domineer with so much insolence that a general Subversion was to be feared of all the affairs of the Government and that therefore the necessity of the time was so pressing that it required speedy Remedies That it was not to be doubted but that the over long sitting of Parliaments was an inexhaustible Fountain of Troubles and Disorders in the State That the Peace and Quiet of the Commonwealth was best secured by making a fit Choice and Election of Members to serve in Parliament that were good men fearing God to succeed in the places of others at certain limited times that so a free power might not degenerate into a Tyranny That all things ought to be regulated as might best conduce to the common good and preservation of the people by discharging them of Taxes and burthensome Impositions and by making Religion flourish and propagating the Gospel every where That provision ought to be made for the Pastors and that Liberty of Conscience ought to be granted to all except to the Popish Religion and Idolatrous Superstitions The Queen of Sweden writ almost at the same time Queen Christina of Swdens Letter to the States to Mediate a Peace a Letter to the States General to offer them her Mediation in the Differences between the two Republicks It contained in substance That she had heard with a very sensible displeasure by the reports that were spread abroad about them in her Capital City of the Disputes that had newly kindled a War between Holland and England That she thought her self obliged in consideration of the common friendship she had with them both to propose some means to reconcile if possible the two Nations That the Sieur Appleboon that was her Envoy at the Hague would wait the States Answer concerning the mediation she offered them adding that she had also made the same offers to the Republick of England The laudable Cantons of Swisserland were likewise no less concern'd at all these disorders than Queen Christina And therefore writ also to the States to offer their Mediation The States of Holland on their side who desired nothing more then Peace writ a Letter to the Parliament of England which was made publick which imported That God the Just Revenger of Crimes seeing they were come to their full ripeness The States Letter to the Parliliament of England had doubtless stirr'd up England and Holland to employ all their forces to their own mutual ruine and common destruction whilst
their Confinity in Religion and Government and their neighbourâ—ood to the Sea secured motives rather to engage those two Republicks in an inseparable Vnion and to link them so straâ—tly together as to oblige them to assist one another That the sworn Enemies of the Reformation were ravisht with joy to see two Allies of the same Faith thus Remorselesâ—y to shed Christian Blood and that they who never could resist one of the Republicks now flattered themselves with the hopes of destroying them both That it would be impossible to resist them if the Party of the two that should prove Victorious after they had so vainly exhausted all their strength should be afterwards suddenly assailed by a new Enemy being reduced into an impotent condition and deprived of the succour of its former Ally That was no Victory more unhappy than such a one as was gained over an Ally without whose assistance one could not be without a notable weakning of ones self That if the English would seriously reflect on considerations oâ— such high Importance there was no doubt but things might be soon brought to an accommodation but since they found that such equitable sentiments as those made no impression on their minds they were resolved to wait from the hand of God the event of all things The Parliament assembled at Westminster having Read their High and Mightinesses Letter sent an Answer to the States General and another to the States of Holland The first of which intimated That the Sincere Amity of which the English had given sufficient proofs to the Hollanders at all times was well known to all the world That besides that they might rely upon the Passion they had to re-establish the ancient Peace and Amity between the two Nations That the Parliament were not inclined to continue the War with an Ally which the ties of Religion ought to render inseparable from them but that rather they were ready to do any reasonable thing in order to stifle these troubles in their beginning that so they might amicably come to an accommodation The Letter which the Parliament of England writ to the States of Holland was to this effect viz. THat since the happy Revolution that had changed England into a Commonwealth The Parliament of England's Letter to the States of Holland they had extreamly well considered how important it was straitly to unite themselves with a Nation the least difference with whom might draw after it very mischievous Consequences because in regard of Religion the two Republicks were so dependant one of another that they ought to be inseparable That if they came to a Rupture with them it was much against their wills that the Parliament consented to the effusion of Blood that was so dear to them being fully perswaded that the Enemies of the Reformation had conspired their common ruine by making use ef their own Arms to destroy them That if Mr. De Heemsted's proposals to which they had yet made no answer because of his hasty departure had been debated in their Assembly the Peace would be at present concluded That the sincerity and ardent passion the Parliament testified for the renewing of a Peace fully justified to the world that it was never their intention to have any hand in so ruinous a War And that their present Conduct and the Protestation they now made that they were ready to renew the Negotiation for a Treaty upon the same Foot as before sufficiently manifested what their Sentiments were in that matter At the same time Mr. Appleboon presented a writing at the Hague to the States General in the Queen of Swedland's name which was to this effect That her Majesty did not so much as pretend to penetrate into the bottom of their Affairs having no other end in so pressing an occasion but to manifest the sincere desire she had to mediate a Peace between the two Republicks so much the rather because her Majesty and particularly the late King her Father had always lived in perfect good intelligence with the Vnited Provinces That ' twâ—s to be feared if they too obstinately persisted in a War with England it would prove a fountain of irreparable mischiefs That her Majesty offered her Mediation and that if the States thought fit to accept it he would wait for the necessary instructions to enable him to make a more particular Overture of it to the Plenipotentiaries The States General made answer to the Parliaments Letter That the inclination they always had had for Peace and for maintaining a strait and inviolable Vnion with England was well known to the Council of State nay and to all the woâ—ld And that they were ready on their side to use all sorts of reasonable means to put a stop to the dismal consequences of so fatal a War and disposed to send Plenipotentiaries with full power for that purpose to any Neuter place that should be agreed upon The Parliament having discontinued their sitting there was nothing left at the Helm but the Council of State and Cromwell remained the sole Arbiter of all the Affairs of the Government who replied to the Letter of the States General That the change that had newly happned in England had not at all changed the just inclinations the Nation had for Peace That the offers the last Parliament had made by their Letter to the States General and to the States of Holland to renew Mr. de Heemsted's Negotiation and pacifie the Troubles between the two Nations were approved by the Council of State That if they would prevent the Obstacles that might happen in the way there was grounds to hope for a perfect union and perpetual good correspondence between England and Holland and that the project of it would without contradiction be the sooner advanced if the Disputes about chosing a neuter place for the Ambassadors of both Parties to treat in did not drill on the Negotiation to too great a length especially considering that affairs were then in such a posture as would admit of no delays And that as soon as their Plenipotentiaries should be arrived thither from the Hague the Council of State would be ready to enter into Conference with them with a promise to neglect nothing that might conduce to the facilitating of an accomodation Upon all these fair appearances the United Provinces dispatcht away Mr. de Bevering and Mr. de Nieuport Ambassadors from the States of Holland Mr. Vander Perre from those of Zealand and Mr. Jongstal from the States of Friseland Whilst they were thus flattering themselves with Peace the States were minded to reward the merit of those that had signalized themselves in the last Battle Lieutenant Admiral Tromp had a chain of Gold valued at 2000 Livers The Vice-Admirals de Wit Evertsz and de Ruiter had each of them one of 1500 Livers and the other Officers were gratified by the Council of the Admiralty every one according to their deserts But the Captains Lueas Albertsz Reinier Sikkema Look Hansbek Ewood
Heironymus Allard Jansz and others that had behaved themselves Cowardly were punished The United Provinces hoping quickly to see an end put to the troubles that had kindled that War begun to retrench a part of the vast expences they were by it obliged to be at The Fleet being ready to sail Tromp thought fit to divide it into 5 Squadrons The first was under his own Conduct and had de Wilde for Vice-Admiral and Vander Abel for Rear-Admiral the 2d was to be Commanded by the two Brothers John and Cornelius Evertsz the first as Lieutenant and the other as Vice-Admiral and by Captain Kemp as Rear-Admiral The 3d. was to be under the Conduct of de Wit as Lieutenant Admiral having Captain Lapper for Vice-Admiral and Kleidyk for Rear-Admiral The 4th was to be Commanded by de Ruiter as Lieutenant Admiral having Captain Van Oven for Vice-Admiral and Hartman for Rear-Admiral And lastly the 5th was to be under the Direction of Florisz as Lieutentant Admiral and was to have Kampen for Vice Admiral and Jaarsveld for Rear-Admiral The English Fleet was divided into 3 Squadrons The First under the Red Flag was Commanded by the Admirals Dean and Monk who were to be together in the Ship called the Resolution the two others under the Blew Flag were Commanded by Vice-Admiral Pen and Rear-Admiral Lawson Their whole Fleet consisted of 105 Men of War among which were 26 Frigats newly built There were in it 16269 men and 2840 Guns Lieutenant Admiral Tromp having received the chief Command of the Fleet was not at all satisfied at it having by writing declared to the States General Admiral Tromp's Complâ—iâ— to the States and his Reasons Contradictiâ—g the parâ—â—â— reports â—â—posed on the peopâ—e in Hollâ—â—â— concerning theiâ— succes◠〈◊〉 the Wâ—â— and plaâ—â—ly con â—sing thâ—ir great losses and to the States of Holland the reasons he had to Complain which were that the States best Ships had been burnt or sunk in the precedent Battles whilst on the other side they had neglected to repair those Ships that might have been made fit for further service That it was none of his fault that greater advantages had not been obtained against the English that however he would obey the orders of the States but that he was so far from doing it willingly that on the contrary he should be very joyfull to see the Command of the Fleet given to any man else but himself adding that when mischiefs and losses should come to be talk of which he but too well foresaw would happen they should have nothing to say against him But no answer was made to any of his Complaints Yet his discontent was so much the better grounded because he was obliged to put to Sea with a great Number of small vessels ill provided for War accompanied with a great many Cowardly and unexperienc'd Officers whereby it was to be considered he must needs not only expose his life but likewise that great Reputation he had gotten by so many brave Exploits But time would not then permit the States to Redress so many grievances at once 'T is True that at the instances made by the States of Holland a Resolution was taken to build 30 new men of War of sufficient bigness to withstand the English but that was a work required time and in the mean while Tromp was fain to make shift with those sorry ones he had already for want of better which at that Juncture were not to be had The Orders he had from the States General imported that he should Convoy towards the North of Scotland a Fleet of 200 Merchant Ships bound for France and Spain and should Conduct back those other Ships that should be arrived in that Sea from divers places The Admirals Dean and Monk who as we have said had the joynt Command in chief of the English Fleet being informed of these Orders resolved to be beforehand with Tromp by attacking him before his Junction with the Zealand Squadron and other Ships designed for his Re-inforcement but they came a day too late so that a few poor Fishermen were forced to bear the brunt of the displeasure they had conceived for so unluckily missing their blow There were 54 of them then in Terreer Road newly came from Zerikzee of which 47 were destroyed and of two Ships that served them for Convoys there was one that had but 4 Guns and yet defended her self so valiantly that the English Frigats were forced a while to let her alone but at last being attackt by a great man of War she was forced to yield Monk and Dean were informed by the Prisoners taken on that occasion of the State of the Dutch Fleet and then they put them a shore upon promise they should never serve against the English after they had used all their flatteries they could to no purpose to court them into the service of England The two English Admirals writ the following Letter to the Parliament to inform them of what had past The Letter of the two English Admialrs to the Parliâ—ment SInce our last we saw our selves just upon the point of a Bloody Battle but God having Ordered it otherwise was pleas'd to permit Tromp and de Wit to prevent us by steering away to the Northward with a great number of Merchant Ships as well to Convoy them that way as to Reconduct the Ships they should find there coming from France but especially those returned from the East-Indies In the mean while we doubt not but you have heard of the new prosperities which it has pleased God to heap upon us having put us in a Condition to strike terrour into the heart of the Enemies Country by a descent upon their Coasts which was followed by several advantages and chiefly by the taking of 50 Fishing vessels newly come from Zerikzee We have put all the Country in Alarm for fear we should make an irruption and that we should make use for that effect of the vessels we have taken from them However 't is a great mortification to the Poor Inhabitants of Zerikzee and a great loss to the whole Country because they us'd to furnish Fish to the Towns of Amsterdam and Rotterdam We flatter our selves with the hopes we shall quickly meet with Tromp May it please God to favour the desires of those that pray for us 'T is true the English had begun to carry the Terrour of their Arms to our Coasts near the Texel and the Helder but having landed some men they were received with so much courage and Resolution as made them have little stomach to venture again upon such another attempt The 13th and the 14th of May the English Fleet saild towards the Coasts of Zealand and on the 15th the two Fleets came within 5 miles one of another yet without meeting together Our Merchant Fleet consisting of 300 sail having fetcht a Compass about Scotland by the greatest happiness in the world was already safe arrived into our Ports without
seeing any Enemies by the way Tromp having Convoyed our Merchant Ships to the Northward as far as Hitland and not finding those there that were to come from France and which he had Orders to Conduct home returned towards the Coast of Holland about the end of the Month and entred into the Meuse where he received a Re-inforcement of 17 Men of War and one Fire-Ship brought him by Rear Admiral Florisz from Zealand upon which he went to Goree to take the Admiral Ship the Brederode which was there repaired having been extreamly endamaged in the last fight On Witsunday Tromp had a Conference with three Deputies of the States General The Result of their Consultation was that Tromp should make towards the Downs of England in hopes to meet there with some of the Parliaments Ships On the 4th of June they discovered some of them to the Northward upon which holding a Council of War it was resolved that de Ruiter with his Squadron joyntly with Rear-Admiral Florisz should steer to the Southward whilst Tromp with Vice-Admiral de Wit should move to the Northward that so by shutting up the Enemies Squadrons within the Downs they might attack them with the greater effect But the English especially Bodley who was returned with a Squadron of 8 men of War and 8 Merchant Ships from the Mediteranean were come to an Anchor under the Castles of the Downs of which Tromp had had advice Bodley to escape him had removed to the Westward so that Admiral Florisz coming thither first found no more but two little Ships that were retired under the Cannon of the Castles of Dover and the Downs the Dutch begun then to Cannonade them briskly to which they returned as vigorously But the Hollanders at length getting nearer Dover found in that road 5 small vessels of which three were taken tho' they had at the very first sight of our Ships cut their Cables to escape the fourth fled and the fifth which was a Frigat retired quite under the Castle The English fired most terribly from the Castle of Dover upon the Hollanders but Tromp answered them so vigorously that all the Inhabitants of the Country were alarmed at it knowing not where to flie and durst not stay in their Houses which they saw unroofed by the Hollanders Cannon balls After that Expedition Tromp advanced towards Swartness where being informed that the English Fleet had appeared near the Vlie he thereupon resolved to go in search of them and on the 24th having discovered them over against Newport he made up directly to them The Dutch Fleet was then composed of 98 men of War but all of them much smaller and nothing near so well provided for War as those of the English The Wind was North-East and the English had the Weather-gage The two Fleets having remained some time in presence of one another without any offer made by the English to attack the Hollanders Tromp did all he could by Luffing to get up to them when he came nigh them the English began at length to cast their Fleet into a line of Battle and divided it into three Squadrons They at first made a Motion with design to enclose the Dutch within a Crescent but when they saw the others observe them very narrowly and seem resolved to stand them their Squadrons joyned again and advanced within Cannon shot of their Enemy and then Monk and Dean gave the signal for Battle and so the two Fleets engaged about 11 a Clock before noon A cruel fight between Tromp and the Admirals Dean and Monk The Wind being North West favoured De Ruiter's Squadron so that he taking advantage of that opportunity fell upon the English and got the Weather-gage of them and then the two Fleets most vigorously charged one another Admiral Dean was killed by one of the first shot that flew from the Hollanders Admiral Dean kill'd Monk seeing him fall covered the Body with his Cloak and endeavoured to encourage the Sea men The fight was furious and bloody particularly between Lawson's and de Ruiter's Squadrons For this latter fought with such Courage and obstinate eagerness that he consumed most part of his Powder then Tromp came into his assistance which Monk perceiving he advanced with his main strength and fell upon the Dutch Admiral which redoubled the fury of the Fight and the Courage of the Combatants Lawson at the head of 9 or 10 Frigats advanc'd with intent to intercept the Captains Vander Zaan and Joost Bulter of Groningen who made great resistance but at length Bulter's Ship called the Camel having received 4 or 5 shot between Wind and Water was forced to yield and presently after sunk Bulter who was wounded in the middle of his Body with a splinter died with his drawn hanger in his hand and was swallowed up half dead by the Waves with part of his wounded men the rest of the Ships crew saved themselves on board Vander Zaan who ran great hazard of being involv'd in the same misfortune as Bulter being likewise surrounded by the Enemies but at last he made his way through them by sinking one of their Ships Tromp made all imaginable efforts to grapple the English Admiral but never could get near enough to him While they were fighting the wind hapning quite to fall the English White Squadron was by that means separated from the rest of their Fleet the Hollanders willing to improve that opportunity advanced with design to intercept it whilst the English on the other did all they could to rejoin their Forces but before they could effect it the Dutch pressed close upon the English Blue Squadron and with broad-sides made their way through the English Fleet. The Victory having a long time Wavered begun then to declare it self for the Hollanders who making their Enemies give way pursued them but a great disorder hapning in their Fleet the English knew so well to make their advantage of it that they gained the Weather-gage of them which gave life to a second Engagement no less bloody than the first and which caused the destruction of the most part of the Ships that composed both the Fleets About 9 at night another English Ship was burnt but they continued still fighting till the night parted them And then the English stood to the Northward and the Hollanders to the South-ward but unfortunately when the Enemies were already retired out of Canon shot as Captain Van Velzen was firing off his last shot his Powder took fire and blew up his Ship with almost all his Men hardly 55 escaping of the whole Ships Crew The whole night was spent in repairing the damages received in the Battle and mending up as well as possible the Ships that were most battered At break of day next morning the two Fleets found themselves not above a mile distant one from the other Lieutenant Admiral Tromp put out the usual signal to call his Officers on board him at whose arrival he with much vexation heard the ill
English quitted us The next day we advanced so fast that by the good Conduct of Lieutenant Admiral Van Nes we were out of danger of running a ground However the English left not off following us in Hopes to burn the first of our Ships that should have run aground But we gave them chace again about the dusk of the Evening On the 5th of August in the morning we descried 21 Sail making towards us with a fresh East-North-East Gale which we easily discovered to be the English come out of Harwich They had 5 Frigats 14 Fire-Ships and 2 Galliots Whereupon Lieutenant Admiral Van Nes held a Council and it was resolved we should cast Anchor and manfully to stand the Enemies shock in spite of the danger we exposed our selves to of losing some Ships As soon as they got near enough to us the first motion they made was to come and fall upon Captain Naalhout to endeavour to burn him but he hastily weighing up his Anchor vigorously Repulsed two Fire-Ships that were coming to grapple him and escaped as 't were by Miralce The Rear-Admiral of Zealand was very near being burnt but he escaped the danger by Repulsing the Fire-Ship with his Guns The Number of Fire-Ships that were destroyed as well on the English as the Dutch side was very near equal After that Rencounter Lieutenant Admiral Van Nes returned to his post to keep the River blockt up as he had done before A Peace was at last Concluded the last day of July And Admiral de Ruiter having received advice that the Ratifications were exchanged on both sides the 25th of the same month and thereupon the Peace was accordingly Proclaimed ordered all Acts of Hostility to cease Such was the end of the Second War the United Provinces had with England which was terminated indeed by a Peace but such a one alas that was but of small duration since scarce had those two Powers laid down their Arms but they were forced to take them up again as will appear in the sequel of our History THE LIFE OF Cornelius Tromp Lieutenant Admiral of Holland and of West-Friesland The Fourth BOOK HOlland and its Allies began now to tast the Fruits of Peace and in Order to make it the more firm and durable England Swedeland The Tripple League and the United Provinces entred into a strict Alliance together at the beginning of the Year 1668. The States foreseeing that France would not fail to conceive an Umbrage at it and that Ambitious Crown being Jealous at all the precautions taken by those Powers for their own security might afterwards perhaps endeavour to seek its Revenge upon some of them thought it necessary to secure themselves from that danger by Uniting themselves more strictly with England which they did by a Defensive Alliance with Sir William Temple Ambassador from his Britannick Majesty at the Hague The first good effect that Tripple-Alliance produced was to put a stop to the rapid Course of the usurpations of France in the Low-Countries by setting bounds to its Ambition For the French King knew so well how to make his advantage of the late War between England and Holland which he had fomented for his own ends that he took that opportunity to surprize the weak Spaniards then under an infant King and to wrest several important places from them in the Low-Countries contrary to the Faith of the Treaties on foot between the two Crowns But the Triple-Alliance forced him to lay down his Arms so that on the 2d of May a Peace was Concluded between France and Spain at Aix la Chappelle After that the French King being much disgusted at the Conduct of the States never left off to seek out occasion to shew his fierce Resentment The first step he thought fit to make towards it was to endeavour to break the Famous and by him so much dreaded Tripple-Alliance by dividing the Princes that were engag'd in it The disgracefull Ravages and Spoils the Hollanders had so unfairly committed on the English Coasts but chiefly at Chattam at a time of a Treaty of Peace as likewise some new difficulties about Navigation and Commerce furnisht him with a hopefull pretence enough to work withal upon the King of England there wanted only a dextrous Person to be chosen that might be fit to perswade his Britannick Majesty And as the French have always been successfull in employing the Ministery of Females in their most important Negotiations because they are more insinuating and flatter generally with a more powerfull and irresistible influence than men so accordingly the Dutchess of Orleans Sister to that Prince was pitcht upon to pass to the Court of England to manage that nice affair She set out then in the month of June 1670 1670. accompanied with a great many French Lords under pretence of making a visit to the King her Brother The States were not long before they perceived what blow the French were designing at them For they well enough foresaw that the Voyage of the Dutchess was intended only to break the Tripple-League And they had certain Advice that the French King was preparing to march with a powerfull Army towards Dunkirk early in the Spring besides all that they made no Difficulty to say publickly at Stockholm that if the French King should attack the United Provinces upon any other pretence than that of the Triple League that Swedeland would not be obliged to assist them The French Court without declaring themselves openly had already begun to Commit a sort of Hostility by laying excessive imposts upon all Dutch Merchandizes imported into that Kingdom The States having Complained of it several times with no effect resolved at last to retaliate that usage by forbidding the importing any Brandy or French Manufactures into their Dominions hoping by that means to oblige the most Christian King to alter his proceedings And because the march of the French Army towards Dunkirk put them in some apprehension for the Low-Countries the States resolved also to have a powerfull Fleet at Sea under the Command of Admiral de Ruiter both to secure their Commerce and to observe the motions of the French And besides they Sollicited England likewise to put a Fleet to Sea to joyn with theirs according to the obligations of the Tripple-League But King Charles gave them already to understand that he had quite different aims On the 8th of June 1671. de Ruiter sailed out of the Mense with some men of War towards Ostend near which place his Fleet was to Rendesvouz It consisted of 46 men of War 10 Advice-Yachts and 6 Fire-Ships It carried 2379 Guns 8090 Seamen and 2768 Soldiers and was divided into 3 Squadrons the first under the immediate Command of de Ruiter the second under that of Lieutenant Admiral Bankert and the third under the Conduct of Lieutenant-Admiral de Gent. Whilst the Fleet was cruizing upon the Coasts of the Netherlands it was on the 20th of August overtaken with a violent
present Answer Tho the Parliament were inclined out of a principle of affection and tenderness to receive favourably the expressions contained in the abovesaid writings tending to represent the late Fight between the two Fleets as a thing that hapened without the knowledge and against the will of their High and Mightinesses yet upon due reflection made thereon it appears That the Resolutions of the States and the Conduct of their Admirals do no ways agree with all those protestations especially in a time whilst a Treaty of Alliance was managing which they themselves had sought for and which had been Negotiated by their own Ambassadors Besides what could be the scope of so formidable an Arming of 150 Ships of War made by them without any occasion for it was it not for the design which has now lately broken out Which is nothing else but the effect of a real jealousie even by the confession of the Ambassadors themselves at the same time they pretend to excuse themselves of it and according to the Tenour of the Commissions their High and Mightinesses have given to the Chief Commanders of their Naval Armies there are but too many reasons that perswade us to believe that the States do thereby but aspire to Ravish from England by force of Arms her ancient Prerogatives and the Rights she has over the Seas and that further they aim at nothing else but the destruction of our Fleet which is our Barrier and our securest Rampart and by that means to expose this Commonwealth to an Invasion as they intended to do by the late attempt Upon which the Parliament think themselves indispensably engaged with the assistance of Heaven to exact speedy satisfaction for the outrages done to the Nation and to put themselves in such a condition that the like may happen no more for the future And yet they do all this with design however to appease if possible the Troubles that have lately risen between the two Nations by all ways of Humanity and moderation if God who by his Wisdom and Almighty Power is able to do all things shall please to furnish us with more proper and efficacious means for that end than have been hitherto employed This Answer together with that proud and haughty way the English have with them begun to give new alarms to Holland and make her fear the Consequences would be fatal It was a very sensible Vexation to the States to see themselves upon the point of coming to a Rapture with that New Republick whose happy progresses in her beginnings had made them conceive fair hopes that she would let her Allie Holland share with her in the prosperities she enjoyed by the good Correspondence and strict Friendship which was like to Reign between them The Merchants were almost out of their Wits at it by reason of the great loss they daily suffered both of their Ships and Goods which unhappily became a Prey to the English Privateers Which obliged the States before the Negotiation already begun was quite broken off to dispatch another Extraordinary Ambassage to London being willing to appease all disputes by Amicable ways if it were possible to find out any means to do it and it being necessary for that purpose to make choice of some person of great Merit they cast their Eyes upon Mr. Pauw Lord of Heemsted Pensioner of Holland one of the ablest Ministers even by the Testimony of Foreigners themselves the Republick ever had He set out from the Hague the 25th of June on his way to the Brill and at 6 a Clock at Night the same day he got on Board a Dutch Man of War the 28th he arrived at Gravesend and sent notice of his arrival to the States Ambassadors and to the Parliament who were not a little surprised at it The Ambassadors came presently to him to inform him of all that had pass'd The 30th Mr. Heemsted was Conducted to London with the Ceremonies usual at the Entry of Ambassadors He was received at the Tower by three members of Parliament and Conducted thence by them to the House appointed for his Lodging attended by a very fine Train of Coaches of many great Lords and persons of Quality He presently demanded Audience of the Parliament which being granted him the very next day he there pronounced a discourse in Latin whereof here follows the Translation Most Honoured Lords The Speech of Mr. Heemsted Ambassador Extraordinary to the Parliament THe Publick Testimonies and Authentick proofs of a sincere and cordial Amity which the States of the United Provinces and their Subjects have always shewn to the British Nation and especially towards the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England whose Government is at present so happy and flourishing are so well known to all Christendom that no body doubts of them any more than they do of the ardent passion they have had to render it perpetual firm and unmoveable But because by reason of the inconstancy of worldly things there often happen unlucky accidents and disorders in Humane life that change the State of affairs and seem to cover over its face with a thick and sable Cloud that obscures for a time that agreeable Union and happy mutual Benevolence there is need of a great deal of precaution to stop its mischievous Consequences above all if it be considered that when such kind of troubles are timely stifled in their birth and that unhappy misunderstanding started by them comes once to cease it may be said they serve more to strengthen and confirm that mutual Union than any way to weaken or dissolve its Bonds 'T is for this design that my Mrs. the States General of the United provinces have been pleased to send me in Quality of their Ambassador extraordinary to the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England tho' otherwise they had no reason to doubt either of the Prudence or of the Capacity of the Ambassadors they had here already for Affairs of high importance I am therefore sent to assure the Commonwealth of England from them of the sincere and inviolable desire they have to see its Government continue in that Peace Happiness and Prosperity which at present it enjoys and to offer it at the same time all the services they are capable of And I can give you this Testimony of them with the more assured fidelity because having always been present in their assemblies and coming now but newly out of them I have been an Eye witness of the zeal and ardent passion they have to contribute all that lies in their power that may possibly conduce to the maintaining a firm and solid Friendship between the two States and to prevent all that may shake it And therefore 't was with great Astonishment and with a very sensible Regret they heard of what has past between the Admirals of the two Republicks and for fear that fatal Rencounter altogether unexpected should cause some new mis-understandings and raise new Jealousies or that by putting a stop to