Reprisals or suffered any Proceedings against the Ships so stopt till we had a full Assurance that de Ruiter had put in execution the said Orders by the taking or several of our Subjects and of their Ships and Merchandizes Finding at present bv these new Offences and Attempts and by the Advices we have received of their Preparations for War and of their granting out Letters of Reprisal against our Subjects that our over-great Indulgence and all the other Remedies employed by us to induce them to entertain a true Amity with us have been ineffectual seeing they are resolved by Force of Arms to maintain their unjust Attempts we therefore have thought fit with the Advice of our Privy Council to testifie and declare to the Face of the whole Earth That the said States are the Aggressors and ought justly to be acknowledged such by all the World so that our Fleets and Ships as well as all other Ships that shall receive Commissions from our well-beloved Brother the Duke of York Lord High Admiral of England shall have Right and may by vertue of them Fight Take and make themselves Masters of all the Ships Vessels and Effects belonging to the Subjects or the Vnited Provinces or to them that shall be bound for their Country We also expresly forbid all our Subjects as we likewise advertise all other Persons of what Nation soever they be to carry or Transport any Soldiers Arms Powder Ammunition or other contraband Merchandizes into the Lands Countries Plantations or Provinces belonging to the said States for that such things when taken shall be adjudged good Prize And further we declare That every Ship of what Nation soever it be that shall be found to have on Board her any Effects Merchandises or any number of Persons belonging to the United Provinces or their Subjects shall be declared good Prize with her Lading Also That all the Effects and Merchandises of what Nation soever they be whether they belong to us or Foreigners it matters not which shall be found in any Ships belonging to the States or to any of their Subjects they all shall be declared good Prize unless the said Ships be provided with good Pass-ports granted to them by us or our Dear Brother And that this our Declaration may be publick and all the World may have perfect Knowledge of it our Will and Pleasure is That this present Declaration be publisht with all the usual formalities as it ought to be c. As soon as this Declaration appeared the States sent Copies of it into all the Courts of Europe which they directed to their Ministers there to present them to all the several Princes and Powers and to make them take notice at the same time what Losses and Damages they must expect from such a Declaration by the Interruption of their Commerce since by that not only the Merchandizes which should be found on Board the Dutch Ships were to be declared good Prize but also all the Vessels belonging to them if they were laden with Dutch Commodities or if they had on board them any of the Subjects of the Vnited Provinces The French and those of Hamburg and Ostend sufficiently felt the Effects of it since many of them tho' they were going toward Neuter-Places were seized and carried into the Ports of England from whence they were not released till a long time after and with much Difficulty and after great Expences The War then being declared the English Navy Royal under the command of the Duke of York consisting of above 100 Sail of Men of War great and small set sail the first Day of May and two Days after arrived before the Texel a little too soon and before it was well compleat The cause of that great Precipitation was a false piece of News sent to White-hall by the Earl of Ossory Son to the Duke of Ormond Vice-Roy of Ireland That a certain Bark had discovered behind Hitland a Fleet of 60 Sail which they thought at first to be de Ruiter's Fleet with some Prizes but on the 8th of the same Month the English Fleet was saluted with a violent Tempest in wnich some of their Ships were scattered and others very much damnified So that seeing de Ruiter appeared not they were forced to return back into their own Ports without having made any other Progress than the taking of 7 Ships laden with Wine with another Ship that served them for Convoy an English Prize taken by the Hollanders near the Caâ—ibee Islands and a Ship of Lisbon But the Men of War that were their Convoy being nimble Sailers escaped by the Favour of the Night Whilst the English were busie in repairing the Damages done to their Fleet by the ill Weather the Zealand Fleet consisting of 31 Men of War having set sail the 22d of May at break of Day joyned that of Holland under the Command of Lieutenant-Admiral Opdam After which junction the whole Fleet kept on their Course being composed of 103 Men of War 7 Yachts 11 Fire-ships and 12 Galliots carrying 4869 Guns and 21631 Men and was divided into 7 Squadrons The first was under the Conduct of Admiral Opdam Vice-Admiral Vander Hulst and Rear-Admiral de Graaf The second was commanded by Admiral John Evertsz Vice-Admiral de Liesde and Rear-Admiral Cornelius Evertsz The third was under the Command of Admiral Kortenaar Vice-Admiral Schey and Rear-Admiral Marceveld The fourth was under the Conduct of Admiral Stellingwerf Vice-Admiral Koenders and Rear-Admiral Bruensveld The fifth was under the Command of Admiral Cornelius Tromp of Vice-Admiral Koeverden and of Rear-Admiral P. Salomonsz The sixth was commanded by Admiral C. Evertsz Vice-Admiral Bankert and Rear-Admiral Bronsaart And lastly the seventh was under the Conduct of Admiral Schram Vice-Admiral Staghouwer and Rear-Admiral Hourtuin That Fleet one of the finest and most formidable that ever appeared on the Northern Seas seized and took soon after about 20 English Ships the News of which coming to London put the Merchants almost out of their Wits for Vexation Which made double Care and Diligence be used in Pressing of Men and arming out the English Fleet so that at length it put to Sea again consisting of 107 Men of War and of 14 Fire-ships or Advice-Yachts and was divided into 3 Squadrons Whereof the first under a Red Flag was commanded by the Duke of York Pen and Lawson The second being the White Squadron was under the Conduct of Prince Robert Mings and Samson And the third being the Blue Squadron was commanded by the Earl of Sandwich Cuttins and Sir George Ayschew The Two Fleets were not long before they engaged in a Battle that was cruel and bloody of which these were the principal Circumstances On the 8th of June the English Fleet A Fight between the Duke of York and Admiral Opdam being refitted put to Sea a second time unmoored from Gunfleet Bay near Harwich and came to an Anchor in Southwold Bay as well to take in a new Supply of Provisions as
Nations and dissipating all the Umbrages that seemed then to render them irreconcilable that having at length attained to that happy Union so necessary for their common Security there might be noâ—hing able to disturb them And as that Resolution was full of sincerity and aimed only at the tranquility and happiness of the two Republicks so it was accordingly expedient to prevent by a diligent execution some Evils that otherwise would grow incurable if they were not stopt in their very Source That upon this consideration he requested the Council would be pleased to order he might be speedily dispatcht by granting him his Audience of Leave and the necessary Passports for his Ship that waited for him at Gravesend and that being perswaded That the Council of State would have regard to his Quality and Character he dar'd to flatter himself they would render him the same Honours at his Audience of Leave as were done him at his Entry and for which he was very much obliged to the Council The other Memorial imported The second Memorial that the Ambassador Extraordinary of the States found it necessary to Represent to the Council That if they thought it fit after he should have made his Report to their High and Mightinesses he desired his Secretary or some other trusty Person might come back to London to maintain a Correspondence together whether by delivering or receiving to and from the two States all that might any way conduce to the re-establishing a strict Alliance and perfect Union between them And that in order thereunto it would please the Council to Grant the necessary Passport for the security of that Person That he should also have permission to stay at London so long as the Parliament or the States should think fit or else that the Council would name some person themselves whom they thought fit to receive the Letters that should be written to that purpose and to solicit their Answers But they made no Reply to this last Proposal how equitable soever it appeared as being jealous that under that Covert some Dangerous Intelligence might be carried on against them in favour of the pretensions of the Family of the Stuarts The three other Ambassadors presented likewise to the Council of State the following Memorial on the 8th of July That since the Ambassadours of the States General had Orders by the last Letters they received to Retire without delay to go and give an account of their Negotiation to the States their Masters they therefore prayed the Council they might be permitted to take their Audience of Leave of that August Assembly and that accordingly Ships necessary for their Transportation and that of their respective Equipages together with Passports for their security might be granted them adding that there were some Ships of their Nation ready for that purpose as Captain de Boet and three other Ships of Dort The Republick of England fortifying every day more and more their Authority began to render themselves insupportable by their excessive Pride and Haughtiness For Sweden and Denmark several Princes of Italy the Hanse-Towns of Germany and other Free Cities of Europe were forced to acknowledge their up-start Government And they troubled themselves not much about the States Ambassadors as the scornful disdain they shewed of all their Remonstrances was a visible proof so that no body was surprized at all to see with what facility they granted them their Audience of Leave They consented that two of their Men of War should Convoy them and two other Ships Transport their Equipages And so the next day the fear Ambassadors were conducted to their Audience and Mr. de Heemsted made the following Discourse in the name of them all The States General of the United Provinces have sent their Ambassadors Extraordinary to the Parliament of the Republick of England Mr. de Heemsted's Speech at his Audience of Leave to endeavour by all sorts of ways to induce them to renew the ancient Amity between the two Nations and to confirm more straitly their Alliance They were followed a little while after by Mr. Nieuport a Member of the States of Holland and Westfriesland who was sent to clear some difficulties and to give a more Authentick proof of their Good Intentions concerning the Treaty of Confederacy In fine it pleased their High and Mightinesses some days after to make yet another Extraordinary Deputation and to make choice of me for that with Express Order to come and give the Republick of England new more particular and stronger Assurances of a faithfull and sincere Amity in order to dispel all Umbrages and all Subjects of misunderstanding and to prevent all Obstacles that might hinder the Execution of so laudable a Design For that effect it was proposed That an enquiry should be made by some judicious persons on both sides into the Action that lately passed between the two Fleets and which happened not by any premeditated design but by pure accident that so according to their Verdict satisfaction might be given to the Party offended For we Protest before God and before Men and in presence of the Parliament of the Republick of England That the States our Masters never had it in their thoughts to offend this Republick and much less to commit any act of Hostility against it But that they were more disposed by a sence of a true and sincere affection to contribute to the maintaining a stable and good understanding and inviolable Peace between them But since unfortunately in spite of the steps that have been made and the pains taken to pacifie all these Troubles the two Ambassages have proved ineffectual and frustrated of the hopes they had with so much justice conceived and that by new Disputes that have arisen and caused great losses and that besides the States are threatned with new Hostilities from the Parliaments Fleet without having had the least notice given them of it The Ambassadors thought themselves obliged in prudence to prevent the Storm and to retire into their own Country as well to go and give an account of their Negotiations as to take new Instructions from the States their Masters For this end we present our selves all together before this August Assembly to give them notice That we have received order to retire and are upon the point of our departure We have already represented to the Council of State what things are necessary for our departure with Respect to the Juncture of time and our Character and we wait their Answer In the mean while it is not only our Duty but a point of Justice to intreat you that all our Ships that have been brought into the Ports of England or been stopt there before the publication of any Declaration of War without any offence given by any of the Masters of the said Ships may at last be released with all their Men that they may pursue their intended Voyages without being molested in any manner whatsoever and that all be done according to our ancient Friendship and the Law of Nations practised among Christians We hope the Justice of the Soveraign Republick of England will
to the Governours and Lieutenant Generals of his Majesty as well those of his Provinces as of his Armies to Camp Marshals Brigadeers Colonels Captains and other Commanders of his Troops as well Infantry as Cavalry French or Strangers and to all other Officers to whom it appertains to lend a hand to the Execution of these presents every one in his place and his Jurisdiction For such is the pleasure of his Majesty Who likewise wills that these presents be published and fixed up in all his Towns upon Sea and elsewhere in all the Ports and other places of his Kingdom where it is necessary that none may plead cause of Ignorance and that to the Copy of them duly compared the same credit be given as to the Original In the month of February following the United Provinces concluded another strict Alliance with Denmark in Consequence of which orders were sent to Funen into Holstein Jutland and Norway to lay an Embargo upon all Danish Ships and to forbid them to stir out of their Ports that so by that means the Danish Fleet might be the more expeditiously equipt and Armed out The Articles of that Treaty were I. THat each party should absolutely desist from all pretensions they might have one upon the other The Articles of the Dutch League with Denmark II. That all manner of mis-understanding in Norway should be laid asleep and forgot III. That the States General should engage to pay to his Danish Majesty 1500000 Livers per annum as long as the War against England should continue of which the French should be obliged to pay 300000 Livers yearly for their part For which sum the King of Denmark should engage on his side to maintain a Fleet at Sea of 30 Ships of War of which some should be furnished with a sufficient number of Regular Troops to be employed in the Service of the States when they should need them That Treaty was a stroke of Thunder to the English who were the more sensibly concerned at it because they had not heard the least inkling of it till they heard of its conclusion For Dreyer the Secretary of the King of Denmark's Embassy in Holland was sent incognito by the Ministers of that Prince that were at the Hague Mr. Catisius and Mr. Klingenberg immediately after the Conclusion of the Treaty to the King their Master to present it to him and get his Ratification after which the Secretary came back again with all expedition to the Hague This politick silence was the cause that the English Resident at the Court of Denmark had not time to advertise the Merchants of his Nation of it so that all their effects were seized and confiscated throughout the whole extent of the Kingdom It 's true the Danes proceedings on that occasion had some appearance of Justice and Equity because the English from the very time they made that Hostile attempt of which we have spoken upon the Port of Bergen in Norway had not only seized on the Danes Ships and Merchandizes but had likewise taken their men Prisoners so that the Crown of Denmark in that Rencounter seemed to do no more than to use Reprisals had it not afterwards appeared that they had dealt perfidiously in that matter with the King of England and secretly invited him to that Enterprize for which they afterwards declared War against him In the mean time the United Provinces in order to facilitate the Arming and manning out the Fleet publish'd on the 1st of February an Ordinance forbidding all Merchant Ships and Fishing vessels to stir out of their Harbours upon pain of Confiscation of their said Ships and Goods They likewise forbad the great and small Fishery under the same penalties and the Ordinance for forbidding the Greenland Fishery was also renewed But the States however declared that their intention in all those prohibitions was to find them subsistance all the year without any alteration even after the Fleet should be gone out c. About that time Tromp signified to the States that he should be glad if they would please to change his Quality of Lieutenant Admiral of Holland and West-Friesland or of the College of the Admiralty of the Meuse into that of Lieutenant Admiral of the College of the Admiralty of Amsterdam which request the States granted upon Condition he got the consent of both those Admiralties thereunto so that having obtained it on the 6th of February he was created Lieutenant Admiral of the College of the Admiralty of Amsterdam and on the 24th of the same month Vice Admiral Aart Van Nes succeeded him in quality of Lieutenant Admiral of the Meuse and Captain John Van Nes was made Rear Admiral In the mean while the English being sensible of the great Force of so powerfull a League made very great preparations for War on their side and exerted as we may say the utmost of their efforts to make a vigorous resistance But because money was wanting they were forced to borrow 1250000 l. Sterling more at great Interest and besides to help towards the defraying of the extraordinary charges of the War the two East India Ships viz. the Phoenix and the Fort of Huningen taken from the Hollanders were sold which yielded the sum of 1600000 l. And because the French King had first declared War against England the King of Great Britain who was no less Jealous of his honour than the Monsieur published likewise a Declaration against that Crown in the following Terms The King of England's Declaration of War against France WHereas the French under pretence of a defensive League concluded with the States General of the United Provinces accuses us of having violated the Peace though all Europe be well enough informed of the contrary And upon that Ground has declared War against us on the 26th of January last making himself thereby the Aggressor and Infractour of the Peace which we have always desired to preserve with the said States on whose behalf the Ambassadors of the most Christian King never offered any indemnification for the losses suffered by our Subjects nor given any Guarrantees for the security of their Commerce for the future We therefore trusting in the Almighty power of God and in the justice of our cause and being likewise assured of the Bravery and Fidelity of our Subjects have thought fit for their Common security to declare that we are resolved to carry on the War vigorously by employing all our Forces as well by Sea as by Land against France which has newly begun it with us against all the Laws of Justice And to that end we Command our Royal Brother Lord High Admiral of England and our Trusty and well beloved Cousin and Councellor George Duke of Albemarle General of our Armies by Land our Lords Lieutenants of Counties Governours of Provinces and all other inferiour Officers and Soldiers under their Commands as well by Sea as by Land to oppose all the Enterprizes of the French King and his Subjects And for
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
them with some discharge of their Canon and by lowering their Flag upon which the States left the matter to his discretion to act therein according as his prudence should direct him ordering him to do nothing to the disadvantage of the Nation or prejudicial to the Glory of the State And that he should defend their Vessels from all manner of attempts against any that should attack them And that however to avoid giving any new matter of jealousie to the English he should endeavour not to go near their Coasts But a Tempest and contrary Winds hapening to arise Tromp was forced to quit the Coasts of Holland and Flanders and much against his will to make towards the English Coast to save his Fleet and to preserve it from a fatal Shipwrack but he quitted it again as soon as possible he could and made towards Callis A while after being informed that Seven Dutch Merchant Ships Richly Laden were coming from the Streights and that two English men of War and some Frigats were in quest of them to take them Tromp changed his Course to go to their assistance And in his way near Dover on the 29th of May he met Robert Blake Admiral for the Parliament of England having under his Command a Fleet of about 28 Capital Men of War and Frigats that put to Sea the 5th of May to go a cruising upon the Coasts of the Low Countries Tromp seeing him disposed himself to pay the usual Honours to the Banner of England and likewise ordered a Boat to be ready to carry one of his Captains on board the Admiral to Compliment him But Blake who was in the James carrying 82 Guns and 700 Men not minding all those marks of Submission or at least making as if he perceived them not made three Canon Shots one after another at Tromp's Ship called the Brederode carrying 54 Guns and 250 Men who answered not the English Admiral till after the third Shot And then 't was that the Fight began to grow hot and Bloody the two Fleets continuing to Canonade one another for four full hours and then were parted more by the obscurity of the night than for having satisfied the eager desire they had to fight The two Naval Armies then Sheering off into the main Sea fell to work each of them to repair their losses and together together the vessels shatter'd and scattered in the fight The Hollanders having hung out lights during the darkness of the night discovered next morning at break of day the English Retreating towards Dover The Captains Tuinemans and Sipke Fokkes being cut off from the Reer of the Fleet were forc'd to yield to the Enemies after a long and vigorous resistance But Fokkes's Ship having all her Masts shot by the board and leaking extreamly as being shot through and through in many places was quitted again by the English as soon as they had Plundred her for fear she should sink under them but yet as much maul'd as she was she made a shift to get to the Dutch Fleet again the same day Blaâ—e's Ship was so batter'd that she could keep the Sea no longer but was fain to be towed with much ado into the Downs It is certainly said that if Tromp had had Sea room enough during the fight the English would not have come off at so Cheap a rate as they did After such an Action as that which was to be lookt on as the Preludium of a Bloody War which was ready to break out between the two States Tromp being willing to Justifie himself and to shew that he was not the Aggressour nor had not passed his Orders Writ the following Letter upon it to the States High and Mighty Lords SInce my last of the 20th Instant after having Cruized before the Meuse Wielengen Ostend and Newport till the 24th we were forced to weigh Anchor because of the Boistrous Weather and the Tempest growing still more furious several Captains came aboard the Admiral to inform him what Anchors and Cables they had lost some of them having but two left and because the Wind continued to grow more violent we Resolved for the preventing of a greater disaster to make towards the Coast of Dover We got into the Downs at one a Clock when I immediately dispatcht away Captain Theyssen of Flushing and Captain Allen to Compliment Bourn who was then Riding there with a Squadron of the English Fleet under his Command and to desire him from me to take no Alarm at the sight of the Hollanders upon the Coasts of England because it hapned only by an unexpected effect of the Tempestuous Weather and to assure him they had no other design there than to refit their Vessels in order to return as soon as they could towards the Frontiers of the State and that the Orders we had from the States General concerned only the security of our Trade and Fishing and maintaining the Glory of our Nation Bourn having heard this Message made answer thereto with some Compliments he charged my two Officers to make me desiring them withall to return me his thanks for my advertisement The 29th of the same Month we unmoor'd with a Wind blowing fresh at North-East steering our Course towards Callice with design to go and Cruize upon our own Coasts to refurnish our selves with Anchors and Cables We met in our way the Captain Van Saanen of Amsterdam coming from the Streights with Captain Huntbuyt who informed us that being come along with Seven Merchant Ships valued at above 50 Tuns of Gold they had left them at Anchor right against Fiverly not far off from 12 Men of War belonging to the English Parliament And how that the abovesaid Van Saanen having likewise met on the 22d of May near to Goudstart an English Frigat that would needs have obliged him to strike to her against which he defended himself about two hours till at last she was forced to quit him all these Circumstances had obliged him to make to the Fleet to give them notice in what danger the Merchant Ships were This made me Resolve to go to their assistance and to Rescue them out of the hands of the Enemies according to the 7th and 8th Article of my Commission In our way we met 15 of the Parliaments men of War or Frigats upon which I presently lower'd my Sails and struck my Flag in order to pay the Honours due to the Banner of England Being come within Cannon shot the English Admiral let flie a shot at me to which I made no Answer he then gave me another to which I Answer'd upon which he let flie a whole Broad side at me which made so great Havock on board me that several of my men were Wounded and some of them had their Arms or Legs shot off I then likewise discharged a Broad side at him yet was not able all this while to discover what the English mean't by this so great a silence there was kept on both sides And thus the
Anchor here with all liberty and return at pleasure or send back their Ships laden with all sorts of Merchandises into their own Country 7. All Ships coming hither from Holland or elsewhere shall be freely received here with their Merchandises and as freely permitted to go away again elsewhere as was practised before our arrival and that for the space of six months continuance 8. The Hollanders here shall enjoy Liberty of Conscience in Divine Service and Ecclesiastical Discipline 9. No Hollander nor any Ship belonging to him shall be forced in time of War to take Service against any Nation whatsoever 10. No Manathan or Inhabitant of the Country shall be charged with Quartering of Soldiers till the Officers have fully paid and satisfified him for it beforehand and that too only when the Fort shall not be able to lodge all the Soldiers within it and then the Burgomasters shall be oblig'd to chuse out some houses for that purpose 11. The Hollanders shall keep their ancient Customs concerning Inheritances and Successions 12. All Publick Writings and Contracts concerning any ones Inheritance or Ecclesiastical Government and the Diaconie or Orphans Chamber shall be carefully preserved by those who have received them And if there be any Writings that concern the States General they shall be sent to them upon occasion 13. The sentences that have been given here shall be firm and stable without being stopt by any new proceedings But if any one think injustice has been done him and that he shall appeal to the States General the contrary party shall be obliged to answer his Grievances 14. If any Hollanders dwelling here shall desire to go into England or any other part of his Majesties Dominions to Trade there or would traffick with the Indians upon his presenting for that effect a Petition to the Governour a Writing shall be granted him by which he shall be declared a Burgher of that Place and in that Quality he shall be permitted to trade there with all Liberty 15. All Subalternate Burghers Officers and Magistrates shall be continued in their Offices if they desire it till the time prescribed for a new Election and then new ones shall be chosen upon this Condition that the new elected Magistrates shall be obliged to take an Oath of Fidelity to his Britanick Majesty before they enter upon their Office 16. That if it appears expences have been made for the Publick and means found out to erect Funds designed for the paying them those means shall still subsist and be put in execution according to the first project formed of them till all the said Charges be re-imburs'd 17. All Contracts formerly made and all Debts and Obligations that concern the Inhabitants of this Province shall be exacted and prosecuted according to the Customs practised by the Hollanders 18. That if it be certified that the Amsterdam Company of the West Indies owe any sum of Money to any one of this Country it is agreed that the enquiry after the Ships and Goods designed for the United Provinces shall be continued 6 months and more 19. All Military Officers and their Soldiers shall march out with the Equipages Compleat Colours flying and Drums beating and if any one of the Body of those Troops shall be minded to employ himself in planting he shall be allowed 50 Acres of Land and if any one of them will serve in quality of Servant he shall be received as a free person and shall afterwards be made a free Burgher of the Country 20 That in case the King of Great Britain and the States of the United Provinces should agree that this Province should be restored to them with the good pleasure of his Majesty it shall be redelivered to them upon the same foot and under the same Conditions 21. The Town of the Isle of Manathan shall have the Privilege to elect Deputies who shall have their free Votes in all publick Affairs as well as the other Deputies 22. They which shall have any Houses in the Fortress of Orange may if they please demolish the fortification and preserve their Houses as it is practised in all open places in which there is no Fort. 23. If any one amongst the Soldiery shall desire to go away for Holland and that the Amsterdam Company or any other private Person be minded to charge themselves with his transportation they shall be provided with a free Passport which they shall receive from Colonel Richard Nichols Deputy Governour under his Royal Highness and the other Deputies by way of Provision for the security of such Soldiers and of the Ships that shall transport them as well as their effects against all Acts of Hostility from his Majestiâ—s Ships or those of any of his Subjects 24. That the Copy of the Kings Patent to his Royal Highness and the Copy of his Royal Highnesses Commission granted to Colonel Nichols Signed and Authorized by two other Deputies and by Mr. John Winschrop for true Copies shall be deliverd into the hands of Mr. Stuyvesand the present Governour to the end that on next Monday at 8 a clock in the morning near the Old-Mill they may be Sealed as well as the Articles granted by Colonel Nichols Lieutenant Governour for his Royal Highness and that two hours after the Fort and the Town called New Amsterdam in the Isle of Manathan shall be delivered into the Hands of the said Colonel Richard Nichols by the means of them whom he shall Depute thereunto under his Hand and Seal New Holland had been possess'd by the United Provinces above 60 Years but being joined on one side to New England so near a Neighbourhood of the two Nations made them that they could not endure one another together and was a perpetual source of Jealousie and dispute to prevent which in the year 1663 they agreed upon certain limits that were to separate them But the Engliâ—h broke that project under pretence they had received no Orders for so doing and whilst the Deputies from the Hollanders were at Boston busied in Regulating the limits the English fell upon some Villages belonging to the States and took them publishing at the same time that they knew no New Holland but only a New England of which all the Country depended so that they influenced many of the Inhabitants to take Arms against the Government The directors of the West-India Company made their Complaints of it to their High and Mightinesses hoping they might come to an amicable Accommodation about it but the result made it plainly appear that the English intended nothing less than Peace In the mean while the King of great Britain had Advice from Vice Admiral Lawson and Captain Berkley at Cadiz that Vice Admiral de Ruiter having Anchored in the Road of that Town had taken in Provisions for a year and that on the 5th of October at 8 in the morning he weighed Anchor with a Squadron of 12 great Men of War in order to make the best of his way in all
appearance towards the Coasts of Guiney tho' he had given out that he was going to Sally And indeed the suspicions of the English in that point were not without some foundation for de Ruiter had received Express Orders from the States to sail towards Cape Verd and the Coast of Guiney to reduce the English to reason and make them restore by force what they had unjustly usurpt Upon that news all the Dutch Ships were stopt in England and Letters of reprisal were granted but all those Commissions granted in haste were recalled as well to shew all Europe that they would not be Aggressors as to gain time to Compleat the manning of their Navy It was thought more proper to let loose the men of War and Capers upon the Hollanders as well to encourage their press'd Seamen and to get men enough to furnish their Grand Fleet as the more effectually to interrupt the Commerce of the United Provinces by taking their Merchant Ships that went to and fro in the Channel And because they knew they in Holland expected about that time the return of their Ships from France and the Streights they thought it their best way to go and meet them and to endeavour to take them before they let the Privateers go out who in all likelihood would but have awakened the Hollanders and made them think the more of securing themselves And this project succeeded well with them For the Merchant Fleet consisting of 113 sail having quitted the Coast of France to pursue their way home along the Channel was taken and carried into the Ports of England But amongst so great a Number of Merchant Ships there being some Ships belonging to other Nations they were redemanded yet all the rest remained in their hands At the same time the King of England in Justification of that proceeding publish'd the following Declaration The King of Egland's Declaration about the taking of the Dutch Ships HIs Majesty having considered the Injuries Affronts and Damages suffered in the Persons of his Subjects by the loss of their Goods and Ships by the West-India Company and other Subjects of the United Provinces and those losses amounting to very considerable Sums for which no Reparation could yet be obtained notwithstanding the Complaints so often reiterated by his Majesty to the States General for that purpose which have had no effect His Majesty has thought fit by the Advice of his Privy Council to grant Letters of Reprisal against the Ships or Merchandizes belonging to the States of the United Provinces or their Subjects so that not only his Majesties Fleet and Ships of War but all sorts of Privateers shall have right by Letters of Reprisal or permission to be given him from his Royal Highness the Duke of York Lord High Admiral of England to arrest and seize all Ships and Effects belonging to the States of the United Provinces in Order to put them under the Jurisdiction of the Court of Admiralty which shall be Authorized to Act thereupon according to the Customs and Laws of Nations And whereas several Ships and Effects belonging to the United Provinces or their Subjects have been already taken according to his Majesties Orders and are kept in his Harbours His Majesty with the Advice of his Privy Council declares that the abovesaid Ships and Effects are Comprized in the aforesaid Letters of Reprisal and that they shall be proceeded against before the Admiralty according to the Customs and Laws of Nations till a final Judgment And the Present Declaration shall serve for warrant for all that the said Court of Admiralty shall do in that matter Dated at Whitehall December the 16th 1664. The United Provinces seeing themselves thus engaged in a War with England and the Proper season for putting out their Fleet to Sea being past they thought however that at least they ought to put a stop as much as 't was possible to all those Hostilities and to provide for the security of their Subjects Accordingly the States prohibited all their Merchant Ships to go out of their Ports and their Seamen to take service under any Foreign Prince They likewise rigorously prohibited the going out of any vessels and exportation of any Ammunitions and generally of all materials serving to the building of Men of War or furnishing their Equipages Then Mr. Van Beuningen was sent to the Court of France Mr. de Amerongen into Denmark and Mr. Ysbrands into Swedeland in Quality of Ambassadors Extraordinary to inform the Princes that were Allies of the State of all that had lately passed because the English by a fetch of their dissembling Policy endeavoured in all those Courts to make the Dutch pass for the Aggressors and to attribute all the wrong to them They resolved likewise to raise a fund of 14 Millions of Livers as well for the building of 48 men of War as for Levying of some Troops to Re-inforce their Companies and their Garrisons for the raising of a Marine Regiment and a new Regiment in reserve and lastly for defraying the expences of the fortifications of the Brill of Helvoet of Maesland of the Texel and of the other necessities of the State The East-India Company engaged to Equip 20 Men of War for the service of the United Provinces The Zealand Privateers received Letters of Reprisal so that the Capers in little time after took 30 prizes from the English They also appointed a day of Prayer which was celebrated the 21st of January 1665 to implore the Protection of Heaven against the Contagion then Reigning and to beg a Continuaâ—ion of Peace and of the Prosperity of the Prov ncâ— In the mean while the Sâ—â—ur de Goch used all imaginable instances with 〈◊〉 â—â—ng of England to endeavour to obtain the râ—â—ng of the Ships which had been taken But all in vain For the King made him Answer That he had caused to be arrested in his Ports or to be taken at Sea the Dutch Ships upon the certain Advice he had that de Ruiter was sent to Guiney to interrupt the Commerce of his Subjects and to seize on their Ships and Merchandizes so that he intended to indemnifie him for all those losses by the Confiscation of the goods that had been taken that for the same end he would stop all Dutch Ships that should come in his way till he heard further news of de Ruiter c. The Duke of York also declared in Quality of Lord High Admiral of the Kingdom that he would go next spring to Sea to maintain the Honour and Glory of the Crown And the Court of England was just ready to put out a Declaration of War against the Hollanders But that Turner and Walker two Famous Advocates of the Court of Admiralty Represented to the King that if he declared War at that time the Ships taken before the Declaration could not according to the Law of Nations be confiscated upon which 't was thought fit to defer it for some time However the Dutch Ships were declared Good
Nations Your Majesty alone is Witness of the advantageous Propositions that have been made you in order to attain a Good and Solid Peace We have offered to conclude it as your Majesty should desire either that each Party should restore what they had taken from each other or else that if England should think that best for its Interests each side should keep and remain in possession of their Conquests and that with this Advantage for England that those Propositions might have been accepted by your People at a Time when the United Provinces as yet were ignorant what had been taken from them in remote Countries To which may be added that it cannot be said That we flattered our selves with the Hopes of receiving any other Fruit from thence than a bare indemnification for the Losses the States have suffered incomparably greater than those of England Notwithstanding all this your Majesty has not only refused to accept all these advantageous Conditions which may convince you of the sincere Desire the States have for a Peace But further were not pleased to be satisfied with those other Proposals so disadvantageous to the States offered you by the Mediation of France which they never consented to Besides your Majesty would never make or order any one to make the least Overture on your Side of any Conditions upon which you pretended to enter into Negotiation with the States And tho' you have been pleased to testifie to our Ambassadour That you desired nothing so heartily as Peace yet you would never determine to make choice of any means by which it might be attained or explain your Mind clearly thereupon either to him or to the other Mediators We are persuaded there is no Christian Prince in Europe who would not chuse rather at all times to prefer the Sweetness of a good Peace before the Mischiefs of a Cruel War how just soever it may be and we make thereupon the same Judgment of your Majesty's Sentiments since you exercise the same Religion with us But reflecting upon your Majesty's manner of dealing with our Ambassador in contempt even of those advantageous Propositions made you by the French Ambassadours tho' they were altogether contrary to the true Interests of our State in that you would never vouchsafe to make any advances that might serve for a Ground for us to treat upon together we thought then that our Ambassadour could no longer stay in the Court of England without Injury to the Reputation of the State and therefore have thought fit to recal him and that so much the rather because by recalling yours has been pleased to let us know you would not take it ill at our Hands This shall not hinder but that we shall ever retain a sincere desire to come to a good Accommodation as soon as we shall have Opportunity to do it in conjunction with our Allies In the mean while we shall wait the time till it shall please God to inspire your Majesty with such Sentiments as may dispose you to declare what your will is and what are the Conditions that may reconcile us that we may stop and prevent the Effusion of so much Christian Blood which is now spilt and still ready to be spilt in this unhappy Quarrel We can say That we shall not be responsible for it since both before and since the Rupture we have done all we could imagine to be just and reasonable and that could be expected from us and that we are still actually in the same Mind and yet without ever having been able hitherto to find out what your Majesty's Intention is upon that Subject We will therefore wait till you have more Inclination for Peace but yet it were to be wisht you would be brought to those good Thoughts of your own accord without staying till the Mischiefs and Disasters that are now ready to afflict Christendom inspire them into you We pray God to avert them and to take Sir your Majesty's Sacred Person into his holy Protection The Threats made by the French Ambassadours at Oxford to the King of England were soon followed by a Declaration of War from that Crown For Mr. Van Beuningen Ambassadour from the States at the Court of France had a long time before powerfully sollicited them to declare by vertue of the Treaty of Alliance concluded in the Month of April 1662. with the Vnited Provinces urging them out of Hand to unite their Forces with those of the States against the King of Great Britain the Violater of the Peace Upon which the Most Christian King being easily Persuaded that the best way for him to bend the King of England to a pliable Temper to him and to make his Ends upon both Nations was to declare War against the English in that Juncture published the following Declaration The French King's Declaration of War against England HIS Majesty being informed there was some mis-understanding between England and the United Provinces gave order to his Ambassadors in ordinary to employ all imaginable care in his name to endeavour to stifle all those troubles in their birth and having with displeasure heard that things were carried to that extremity as to come to a Rupture his Majesty sent Extraordinary Ambassadors to the King of Great Britain to endeavour by new Instances to pacifie those two powers and induce them to come to some Accommodations but his mediation had not all the success that was to be wisht for In the mean while the States General of the United Provinces strongly soliciting his Majesty to execute the Treaty of a defensive Alliance concluded the 7th of April 1662 between the States and his said Majesty the King finding himself thereupon obliged to perform his Royal Word and the Engagements into which he entred by an Authentick League in a time when England and Holland were as yet in good understanding together and out of all appearance of a Rupture his Majesty has declared and does declare by these presents signed with his own hand that he is resolved to assist the said States General of the United Provinces in pursuance of the said Treaty of a defensive League and to joyn all his Forces to theirs in Order to Act joyntly with them against the English as well by Sea as by Land And for that effect his Majesty Commands expresly all his Subjects and Ships to attack and fight the English forbidding them on pain of death to have any Communication Commerce or Intelligence with them And for those ends His Majesty has revoked and does revoke all permissions Pass-ports Safe-guards or safe-Conducts which may have been granted by him or by his Lieutenants General and other Officers contrary to these presents declaring them null and of no effect forbidding all to whom they shall come to have any regard to them And his Majesty commands the Duke of Beaufort Peer of France Great Master Chief and Super-intendent General of Marine Affairs and of the Commerce of France and likewise to the Marshals of France
that may shew that you determine upon the Choice of one of the Conditions which you may think convenient for that purpose and in consequence of it your Majesty is also prayed to be pleased to let the said Conference already begun to be continued as well in respect of the Place as to the Persons But if your Majesty should make any Scruple to do it and should have any Reasons not to consent to it that then your Majesty would consent that the Mediating Ministers of the Crown of Swedeland may make Choice of another Place where not only our Plenipotentiaries but likewise those of our Allies as well as those of your Majesty may be obliged to meet with all Diligence And we shall take it for one of the greatest Testimonies of the sincerity of the Protestation your Majesty has so often repeated concerning Peace if it stir up no Jealousie nor Disunion between us and our Allies to obstruct it In fine we will wait your Majesty's Declaration in Writing which being signified to us by the Minister of Sweden by which the Mediation of that Prince presented to all the Members of the League as well to the aforesaid Kings of France and Denmark as to us shall be authorized And we pray God to inspire your Majesty with such Sentiments for Peace as we have our selves and such as may consequently move you to resolve to make Choice of the necessary means whereby to promote so great a Work that so we may in a short time enjoy the Effects of a firm solid and inviolable Peace to be concluded between your Majesty and the Powers at present in War against England And for our particular we shall make most ardent Prayers to God for the Prosperity of your sacred Person and for the Subjects of the two States The King of England made the following Reply to the States High and Mighty Lords WE received Yours of the 16th of the last Month The King of England's answer to the States Letter which was delivered us by one of your Trumpeters that accompanied the Body of the Deceased Sir William Barklay in order to be committed into the Hands of his near Relations We consider that Mark of your Civility with all possible Resentment and we pray you to be persuaded that we will do the same by you as often as occasion shall serve As to the other Part of your Letter concerning Peace and the frank and free Answer we made you on the 14th of August by inviting you to seek it we cannot enough complain That all the Advances we have made for that purpose should end in no other effect but to make us be charged with ill-grounded Reproaches that openly condemn the manner of Acting we have observed tho all the World be informed to the contrary Those are without doubt such Preliminaries as are not very capable to facilitate it and t is a thing altogether surprizing that you should endeavour to persuade your own People and all Europe at the same time That we are the Aggressors and Authors of the fatal Consequences which have been enkindled between us You unjustly accuse us of shutting our Ears to all the Proposals you make for an Accommodation by refusing to inform you of our lawful Pretensions In fine you pretend that we alone reject it whilst you and your Allies desire it and passionately seek for it whereas the Truth is you your selves have to this very present Day refused to make the least step that was capable to advance it and to extinguish the fatal Torch of War This conduct so contrary to your pretended Intentions obliges us for the Defending of our Honour and the Justice of our Cause from such sensible Outrages to declare before the Face of the whole World how ill-grounded your Reproaches are It forces us I say to renew once more the Advances we have made for the Re-establishment of Peace ever since the very beginning of the War and which yet you have always rejected We protest to you then that if you think fit for the Time to come to charge your selves with all the Blame which engages our Honour to provide for its Security then we may by the Assistance of Heaven deliberate with Success about the means that shall be judged proper to pacifie our Troubles and put a stop to the cruel Effusion of so much Protestant Blood In the mean while we cannot forbear relating the following Particulars to undeceive the Publick 1. That we have made several pressing Instances but all to no purpose to move you to make Reparation for the Damages suffered by us and our Subjects which you were engaged to do by the last Treaty which was not violated on our part 2. That the Commanders of your Fleet in the East-Indies prohibited our Ships under the Command of the Earl of Marlborough the Entrance of a Harbour where there had been a long Time an English Manufactory settled provided with a great Quantity of Merchandises designed for the lading back of the said Ships at their Return all which Merchandises were soon after stopt by your Officers under pretence That you having declared War against the Princes with whom we pretended to trade it was no longer lawful for us to have any more Commerce with them And about the same Time that Imperious and Extravagant Declaration was published likewise in your Name in Africa by the Officer that commands there for you with a Prohibition to all our Subjects to traffick with the Inhabitants of that Country so that when we demanded Reparation for the Damages suffered shewing you an Authentick Copy of the Declaration lately published there in your Name against the Glory and Interest of the Kings and Princes that have Commerce there and that are not able without Resentment to endure so cruel an Outrage you were pleased to disown that Attempt and absolutely refused to give us any Satisfaction 3. We say That as soon as ever your Ambassadour complained of the Hostility lately committed by Captain Holms in taking of your Fort near Cape Verd we assured him upon our Royal Word That that Attempt was committed without our Knowledg and Participation so that after having disavowed it we summoned him up to appear here and after having seriously examined the Affair we declared that the said Holms should be punished according to the Rigor of the Laws if he were found guilty with Intention to make Reparation for the Damages you had suffered But that Protestation how sincere soever it were was not capable to satisfie you tho' it ought to have done so however according to the Tenour of the Treaty On the contrary you persisted to reproach us with having authorized the Insult made by the said Captain who being at length come back into England we forbad him to present himself at Court and what is more we committed him presently to the Tower of London where he continued Prisoner till after the Rupture And yet your Ambassadour never in all that Time