a rare example of honour and integrity, and hardly to be believed in this age, in which patriots and courtiers have scrambled for places, preferments, bonusses, &c. in such an open and shameless manner, as to have rendered it doubtful whether all pretensions to public spirit, were not veils to ambition and avarice. But to proceed.

Whilst the war

Fleets were now fitted out, both by England and Holland, and such noble exploits were done by Blake and others, as have rendered their memories dear to all true lovers of their country. The particulars are to be found in most of our common histories, and thither I must refer the reader desirous of information on this subject. was carrying on in a manner glorious to the English commonwealth, the parliament omitted nothing which might make it terminate in such a manner as to prevent all future disputes between the two nations. With great diligence and dexterity they got intelligence of the most private designs and resolutions of the enemy, and took as much care as possible to conceal their own; nor would they abate the least in their proposals for peace, though applied to most submissively by ambassadors sent from the states for that purpose. The following extracts will abundantly con

the navy, it was referred to the committee of the navy, to consider of this petition, and how the office of treasurer of the navy may be managed for the future, for the best profit and least charge of the commonwealth; and what salary is fit to be allowed for the execution thereof; and also to consider what compensation is fit to be given unto the petitioner, out of that office, or otherwise, in consideration of his right in the said office." This was on the 27th of June, 1650. On the 16th of July following, the committee made their report, and the house resolved, "That as a fit compensation to be given to Sir Henry Vane, treasurer of the navy, for the surrender of his right in the said place, and in consideration of the profit which will thereby accrue to the state, there be settled on the said Sir Henry Vane, his heirs and assigns for ever, to the clear yearly value of twelve hundred pounds per annum over and above all charges and reprises, out of the lands belonging to the late deans and chapters." -It was also resolved, "That a fit and able person should be appointed treasurer of the navy, who should personally attend upon that employment, and be allowed for the entertainment and salary, for himself, his deputies and clerks, one thousand pounds per annum, in lieu of all salaries, fees, and other profits formerly belonging to the place of treasurer of the navy."

exact.

-We see by this, Mr. Collins has not been sufficiently

firm and explain what is here mentioned.The Dutch ambassadors, in a letter to N. Ruysch, dated Westminster, July 4, 1653, N. S. say, "We are obliged to advise their high and mighty lordships that men here have full knowledge, with all the circumstances of the resolutions taken upon the fifth of June." In a letter of intelligence from the Hague, dated the 28th of the same month, we read what follows: "What I have always feared is now come to pass, that intimation should be given here of the good intelligence you have there of the affairs here. Our deputies there have written hither to these states, that they have assurance from their friends in England, that all the secret actings here, and were it possible, the very thoughts of these states are most exactly and weekly presented in writing to the councel of state there. This was hotly debated in the assembly, every one asking the other, who betrayed them; and some quarrels were like to arise, but a sort of composure was made, and orders given for strict secresy in all their proceedings; so that much difficulty will be in furnishing you; however I shall attempt always to serve you as long as I can. But if you have not secresy, you are not worthy of the profit thereof. Our deputies there begin to give very good intelligence from London, however they get it"." The 18th of this month, we find the following short letter written by Beverning, one of the ambassadors, to Mr. Gerard Cinque at Goude. "Sir, I dare not writę much news. All our actions are spied. We have spies set to watch us in our houses. We cannot be certain of any thing that we do, that it shall not be either known or miscarry. If you please to have any thing sent you from hence, that this country affords, pray let me know it."———— We are not however to suppose but some intelligence was gotten by these ambassadors, Money does wonders, and flattery is all powerful. They who can dexterously apply the one and the other, need not fear of some success. The following passage will shew that they were ordered to be on the look out, and that they had not been idle. It was

C

written from the Hague, October 31, N.S. and seems to come from the same hand which sent that of the 28th of July just mentioned.

"Since my last to you, the post immediately before this, great diligence is used and secret enquiry made, how your council of state comes by the secret resolutions of this state, and the letters of their public ministers abroad; and our deputies who are gone to England have in charge to do their utmost there, whatever it costs to find it out. Of which I advertize you very seriously, to the end hereafter these secrets be not read in open council, and that preven tion may be, least the deputies might learn, from them, that told to them part, how to discover the whole. But I hope and believe I am not betrayed, so as to be known by name or description to any of the council, since some of them are so kind as to tell all they know to the Dutch deputies, to their advantage. I can swear the two deputies standing there did write at full, what I gave you in my last; but this notwithstanding, all the chief of their busi ness shall be had one way or other, if you do not spoil all there, as well was attempted"."And how much the parliament were concerned for the honour and interest of the nation appeared from their demanding as preliminaries to a treaty, that the Dutch should call back their ships; make reparation for damages, and satisfaction for the expences England had been put to defend herself and maintain her rights." Among the articles insisted on by the English was the following. "That the ships and vessels of the said United-Provinces, as well men of war, as others, be they single ships, or in fleets, meeting at sea with any of the ships of war of this state of England, or in their service and wearing the flag, shall strike the flag, and lower their topsail until they be passed by, and shall likewise submit themselves to be visited if thereto required, and perform all other respects due to the said commonwealth of England, to whom the dominion and sovereignty of the British seas

belong." To this article, the Dutch ambassadors, November 22, 1653, did not make any exception, either to the striking of the flag, or the sovereignty of the sea; but they protested against the visiting their ships, as repugnant to the practice of their country, and subject to a thousand disorders and disputes, and injuries to their state; besides the visiting is not to be reciprocal. Whereupon Cromwell in the name of the commissioners replied, that the searching of their ships was no new thing; but an undoubted right which naturally followed from the sovereignty of the sea, the which did appertain to England: it was likewise an efflux of the same dominion, for the English to prescribe to them, with what number of ships of war they should pass the British seas: that they ought to be much more zealous now for the asserting of the said antient dominion of the sea in all its branches; because it had been so lately and so notoriously disputed and invaded. And whereas the ambassadors had somewhat boastingly said in their memorial, that their people were of such generosity that they would never endure such terms: to this Cromwell said he would reply no more, than that we were Englishmen, and had not lost our courage. The parliament insisted likewise that the Dutch should pay for licence to fish upon the British coasts, and suspended the treaty, on account of their unwillingness to agree thereunto, though it is asserted they offered 300,000l. to procure amity and friendship with England. These demands of the parliament may seem high, but they endeavoured to justify themselves to the world, by causing Selden's " Mare Clausum seu de Dominio Maris" to be translated into English, by Marchamont Nedham. This, by special command, was published in November 1652. In a fine and spirited dedication "to the supream authority of the nation, the parliament of the commonwealth of England," the translator observes, "it is a gallant sight to see the sword and pen in victorious equipage together; for this subdues the souls of men by reason,

a "

a Stubbs's Farther Justification, p. 59, 60.

b Id. p. 65.

the greatest designs, and such as would carry

that only their bodies by force. The pen it is which manifests the right of things; and, when that is once cleared, it gives spurs to resolution, because men are never raised to so high a pitch of action, as when they are persuaded, that they engage in a righteous cause; according to that old versicle,

"Wherefore, seeing you (right honourable) have had so frequent experience of the truth of this in our late wars, wherein the pen militant hath had as many sharp rencounters as the sword, and borne away as many trophies from homebred enemies, in prosecution of your most righteous cause by land, certainly you will yield it no less necessary, for the instruction of this generous and ingenious people, in vindicating your just rights by sea against the vain pretences and projects of encroaching neighbours. For, what true English heart will not swell, when it shall be made clear and evident (as in this book) that the sovereignty of the seas, flowing about this island, hath, in all times, whereof there remains any written testimony, both before the old Roman invasion and since, under every revolution, down to the present age, been held and acknowledged by all the world, as an inseparable appendant of the British empire; and that, by virtue thereof, the kings of England successively have had the sovereign guard of the seas; that they have imposed taxes and tributes upon all ships passing and fishing therein; that they have obstructed and opened the passage thereof to strangers, at their own pleasure, and done all other things that may testify an absolute seadominion; what English heart (I say) can consider these things, together with the late actings of the Netherlanders, set forth in your publick declaration, and not be inflamed with an indignation answerable to their insolence; that these people, raised out of the dust at first into a state of liberty, and at length to a high degree of power and felicity,