432 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



meaning of the term "British Sea 1 " thus became confused 

 even within the compass of a single treaty. In reference to 

 this article, the Protector made the important admission that 

 the narrow seas and the British seas were synonymous. 1 In 

 the third article, as we have seen, the same term was used, 

 and it was natural for the Dutch to suppose that it there had 

 the same significance and meant the narrow seas or Channel. 

 Since the clause dealt with a matter of great practical import- 

 ance, namely, the restitution of vessels that might be captured 

 after a specified date, and the term " British seas " appeared 

 to be restricted to the Channel, they wished specifically to 

 include in it the North Sea and the East Sea (or Baltic), both 

 regions of great traffic. The envoys were accordingly instructed 

 later by the States-General to have these words added, so that 

 the clause would read, " excepting such depredations as shall be 

 committed in the British Sea, the East Sea, and the North 

 Sea." 2 By this addition, moreover, the objectionable phrase 

 " the British seas " would be formally restricted to the narrow 

 seas or Channel, with the consent of England. The proposed 

 change was instantly rejected. When Beverning brought it 

 forward, Thurloe resisted it with great warmth, 3 and the 

 qualifying words confining the term British seas to the 

 narrow seas, which the Dutch had inserted, were also deleted. 4 

 When it was verbally agreed that the striking of the flag 

 should be restricted to the narrow sea, 5 the deputies made a 

 new proposal. It was to the effect that Dutch ships, without 

 any distinction, not only in the narrow seas but throughout the 

 whole world, on meeting English men-of-war should give them 

 the first salute by striking the flag and top-sails and firing 

 guns, provided that the English ships immediately returned 



1 "Ende met eenen voortgaende tot het 15 Artikel raekende het stryken van 

 de Vlagge, &c., syn wederom gerepeteert alle de argumenten ende redenen, die in 

 voorige Conferentien syn geallegeert geweest, ende wierdt ten uytersten by den 

 Heer Generael daer in gepersisteert, alleenlyck, dat hy die explicatie byvoeghde op 

 haere laetste antwoorde, daer sonder eenige distinctie van de rencontres in zee 

 gesprooken wordt, dat sy dat verstonden van de naeuwe Zeen die de Britannische 



j IT i i OTO 27 December 1653 

 Zeen genoemt worden." Verbaei, 278, 4 January 1654 



2 Secrete Resol. St. Generael, ^ Feb. 1654. Verbad, 300. 



3 "Met seer scherpe woorden, ende hatelycke illatien tegensprack." Ibid., 307. 



4 Ibid., 320. " Angustum mare, quod vulgo Britannicum mare appellatur." 

 6 "Tot de naeuwe Zee expresselyck gerestringeert." Ibid., 288. 



