THE FIRST DUTCH WAR 395 



the language of the English commissioners, it appears probable 

 that they were acquainted with the proceedings of the States- 

 General as to the proposed article on the striking of the flag, 

 and with the debates in the previous year concerning Tromp's 

 instructions (see p. 398). The negotiations on the fishery 

 question were not carried further at this stage. 



With regard to the article relating to the equipment of a 

 fleet by each nation for the protection of commerce, the com- 

 mentary of the Council of State was that " the Commonwealth 

 of England shall take such care for the guard of their seas and 

 defence of the freedom of trade and commerce therein as shall 

 be fit " ; and with respect to the next, which stipulated that 

 both countries should protect commerce and fisheries from 

 molestation or impositions, the reply was equally uncompro- 

 mising. " If any person," it was said, " shall, within those seas, 

 trouble, hinder, or unlawfully burthen any in the exercise of 

 that freedom of trade which belongs of right unto them, this 

 Commonwealth will use all means just and honourable to re- 

 store and preserve freedom to all lawful commerce in those seas 

 as aforesaid." 1 The meaning of this language was unmistak- 

 able. The Commonwealth intended to adhere to the old claim 

 to the dominion of the seas, which had been revived by Charles. 

 And this exclusive sovereign jurisdiction, it was explained, 

 would be of advantage to the Dutch, since they would bear no 

 part of the cost ; they must be content with freedom of naviga- 

 tion and commerce, and leave to the English the duty of main- 

 taining the security of " their seas." On inquiring what means 

 the Commonwealth proposed to take for this purpose, the 

 ambassadors were told that the intention of the Council was 

 " to defend the sea in their own right," and that any further 

 explanation would be given by the Council if they applied 

 to it. 



At this stage of the proceedings William Nieuport, a member 

 of the States-General, came to London with fresh instructions 

 tor the ambassadors. That body had been considering the 

 English demands for reparation, above alluded to, and also the 

 commentary of the Council on the thirty-six articles ; but the 

 refusal to liberate the captured ships, or to stop the operations 

 of privateers against Dutch vessels, made them obdurate. The 



1 Cats' Verbael, App., 21. Tideman, op. cit., 117. 



