JAMES I. : DISPUTES WITH THE DUTCH 205 



former customs observed, there would be reason found for us 

 to stand upon." l 



A somewhat similar incident happened two years later, when 

 Sir William Monson was bringing over an ambassador of the 

 Emperor from Calais to Dover. In Dover Road he found a 

 number of States' men-of-war, and their admiral, as Monson 

 drew near, struck his flag thrice, but then " advanced " it again 

 and kept it flying in the presence of the king's ship. Monson 

 believed the Dutch admiral had come in on purpose to put 

 this " affront " on him, so that the ambassador, as well as the 

 Spaniards then at Dover, might " spread it abroad throughout 

 all Europe " that the Dutch, " by their wearing their flags, might 

 be imputed kings of the sea as well as his Majesty," and so 

 lessen the esteem of the king's prerogative in the narrow seas. 

 Instead of firing upon the Dutch ship, he sent to invite the 

 admiral to dinner, and to tell him that he must take in his 

 flag. To this request the admiral demurred, saying that he 

 had struck it thrice, and that no former admirals of the narrow 

 seas had required more at his hands. Monson rejoined that 

 " times were altered " ; that when the mere striking of the flag 

 as he had done was sufficient, England and Holland were both 

 at war with Spain and it was tolerated; but now, since the 

 war was ended so far as England was concerned, his Majesty 

 required "such rights and duties as have formerly belonged 

 to his progenitors." On the Dutch admiral still refusing, 

 Monson threatened to weigh anchor and come near him, and 

 that the force of their ships should determine the question ; 

 "for," said the English admiral, "rather than I would suffer 

 his flag to be worn in view of so many nations as were 

 to behold it, I resolved to bury myself in the sea." The 

 flag was then struck, and the Dutch ships stood out to 

 sea. Monson tells us that he was congratulated by a 

 Spanish general who had been watching the proceedings, 

 who said that if the Hollanders had worn their flag times 



o 



had been strangely altered in England, since his old master 

 King Philip II. was shot at by the Lord Admiral of England 



1 Cecil to Parry, 10th June 1603. Foreign Papers, France, vol. 129. It is 

 endorsed "Souverainty of ye Seas, 1603. Monsr. de Vicque beares ye armes of 

 franco in Dover road." See also Sully, Memoires des Sages et royales Oeconomies 

 d'Estat, ii. 173, and Kermaingant, Le Droit des Gens Maritim.es, 3. 



