272 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



own knowledge," that the Admiral should defend and main- 

 tain the ancient known rights of the crown; guard the seas, 

 secure freedom of commerce, suppress pirates, and oppose 

 hostile acts in prejudice thereof; assist his Majesty's friends 

 and allies, attempt no innovation, nor do anything contrary 

 to his treaties, and so he presumed that no one would do any- 

 thing to impeach his Majesty's ancient and undoubted rights. 

 But instead of being satisfied with this "fair answer," the 

 French ambassador put into Coke's hands a regulation he had 

 drawn up, prescribing to both kings " when and where the one 

 shall vail his bonnet to the other." Coke informed the agents 

 that it was hoped this proceeding would be disavowed : and he 

 instructed them, pending the arrival of the new English ambas- 

 sador (Lord Scudamore), to refrain from all discussion with the 

 French king or his Ministers as to the king's right to the 

 dominion of the sea, or about the extent thereof, and to say 

 nothing further as to the designs of the fleet. 1 Richelieu, who 

 had quite enough to concern him in the failure of his attack 

 on the Spanish Netherlands, was content to leave alone 

 the dispute about the flag, and the French ambassador was 

 requested to say as little as possible concerning it. 2 



The Earl of Lindsey, failing to find the French fleet and 

 coming to revictual in the Downs, now bethought himself of 

 the other part of the king's private instructions, about the 

 Dutch herring-busses. If he had been baffled in the attempt to 

 lower the lilies of France, might he not yet force the herring- 

 Tjoats to take his Majesty's license before they cast their nets in 

 his Majesty's seas ? But here, too, obstacles arose. He wrote 

 to Charles on 2nd August that he had consulted the ablest men 

 in the fleet, the captains and masters, and they were of opinion 

 that " his Majesty's great ships would run much hazard " upon 

 the northern coasts. Moreover, if the fleet went north, would 

 it not encourage the French to quit their retreat and " embolden 

 them perhaps to do that which now standing in awe they for- 

 bear to do ? " Still, he was willing to do whatever the king 

 thought best. The king agreed that it might be better to stay, 

 especially as he thought that before the Earl could apply him- 

 self to that service the fishing season would be past. Besides, 

 .said Coke, who penned the despatch, the fleets his Lordship 



1 State Papers, Dom., ccxciii. 12. 2 Gardiner, op. cit., 386. 



