386 



THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



given. St John, though not satisfied, thinking the "mann 

 of penning the answer was dark and doubtful," "determin 

 to proceed into some further thing which might come nearer 

 to make a discovery of their temper and inclination in point 

 of their neutrality, than stay any longer upon general terms," 

 and he accordingly at the same meeting submitted another 

 proposition requiring the confederation of the two states for 

 the defence and preservation of the freedom and liberty of the 

 people of each against all that might attempt to disturb them, 

 or that were declared to be enemies to the freedom and liberty 

 of the people living under either Government. 1 The Dutch 

 commissioners, however, declared that this was a general pro- 

 position, and they insisted on a request they had made from 

 the first, to be furnished with the "particulars" they wan 

 the particulars, simul et semel, that were intended to be insis 

 upon. 



The negotiations had been protracted. By this time a mon 

 had elapsed since the ambassadors arrived, and St John, no 

 conscious that his mission for coalescence would fail, and 

 irritated by the indignities to which he had been subject' 

 obtained an order from the Parliament for his recall. At t 

 urgent entreaty of the States of Holland the Parliame 

 allowed their ambassadors to stay for other forty days, 

 also gave them authority to treat on the basis of the old Inte 

 cursus Magnus of 1496, which the Dutch had suddenly p 

 posed. The States, in truth, had totally different aims fro 

 the Commonwealth. They were thinking about their co: 

 merce, their navigation, and their fisheries, rather than abo 

 the repression of " rebels " ; and they desired that their allian 

 with England should confirm and extend the benefits conferr 

 upon them in these respects by the old treaty. The Intel 

 cursus Magnus had for generations been the sheet-anchor 

 Dutch policy towards England. It gave them the utmos 

 freedom of commercial intercourse, and complete liberty 





1 "We propound, That the two Cofnonwealths may be confederated frien 

 ioyned, and allyed togeather for the defence and Preservation of the Libertyes, 

 and ffredomes of the people of each, against all whomsoever that shall attempt 

 the disturbance of either State, by Sea or Land, or be declared enemyes to the 

 freedome and Libertie of the people liveing under either of the said Governments." 

 Submitted, 17th April. Ibid., p. 7. 



