316 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



his hint was not then taken up, since hopes were entertainec 

 that Arundel's mission to Vienna would make other aic 

 unnecessary. 1 Arundel was recalled in September; it was 

 known that his mission had failed, and early in October Var 

 Beveren saw his opportunity. Through a trustworthy friend 

 the suggestion was made to the Elector that if some arrange 

 ment could be come to about the fishery question, negotiations 

 might be begun for a treaty between the States and England 

 relating to the recovery of the Palatinate. The ambassador 

 learned that the Prince had already taken steps in the same 

 direction. Through the intermediary of Laud, the proposal 

 had been made to Charles that the Dutch, instead of paying 

 license-money for liberty to fish in the British seas, should 

 place at the disposal of the Elector some ships and soldie 

 the king's proclamation for restraint of fishing being mean 

 while suspended. Charles would not agree to this. The am 

 bassador, he said, had offered assistance when he arriv 

 without any hope of an equivalent on his part, and he coul 

 not give up his claim to an acknowledgment of his righ 

 Van Beveren, on the other hand, informed his confidant th 

 it was a question of principle with the States, and that i 

 would be better to break off all negotiations if the " acknow 

 ledgment " was insisted on. Nevertheless, these private neg 

 tiations continued, and finally a draft treaty was prepar 

 embodying two proposals. The first agreed well enough wit 

 Van Beveren's instructions. It was to the effect that a fle 

 should be equipped to which England should contribute thirt 

 ships and 8000 men, and the States fifteen ships and 

 men; and France was to be asked to furnish the same fo: 

 as England. The combined fleet was to attack Spain by s 

 and effect a landing. The second proposal related to the fishe: 

 and it provided that while these operations were going o: 

 the Dutch herring fishermen would be allowed to fish free! 

 and in security, as they had always done from the time 

 Queen Elizabeth and King Jaines, approaching the o 

 near enough to carry on their fishing profitably, and to 



1 Roe to Ferentz. State Papers, Dom., cccxxxiv. 15. 



2 The " confident vrundt " was probably Roe, who was the confidential adviser 

 of Elizabeth, and at this time had interviews with the Dutch ambassador in the 

 Prince's interests, which he "feared would come to nothing." Ibid. 



