CHARLES I. I THE NAVY 281 



him or be sunk by him," which caused him to keep his colours 

 close. 1 In the following year, Captain Ketelby, of the Bonaven- 

 ture, was sent to Boulogne to bring over another ambassador 

 (Lord Weston), and finding the Admiral of Amsterdam in the 

 Road with his flag up, he " gave her a shot," when she struck it 

 and presently hoisted it again. Ketelby then sent his lieuten- 

 ant to command him to take in his flag or prepare to defend it. 

 The Dutch Admiral argued, and kept it up till Ketelby was pre- 

 paring to shoot again, when he took it in. Two days later 

 another Dutch admiral, this time the Admiral of Holland, came 

 into the Road with ten or twelve ships of war ; within a reason- 

 able distance he struck his flag twice and saluted with seven 



o 



pieces, and then he also hoisted it again. Ketelby " conceived 

 this homage not sufficient," and notwithstanding the disparity 

 of force, sent him a command to take in his flag, which he did, 

 and kept it in till the Bonaventure departed. Such incidents 

 show both the domineering conduct of the English captains 

 and the forbearance and good sense of the Dutch, who acted 

 in obedience to the strict orders they had received to strike 

 to the English ships. But nearer home Ketelby had not so 

 much glory. On returning with the ambassador he met ten 

 sail of Hollanders on the English coast between Dover and 

 Folkestone, one, a States' man-of-war, bearing his flag on the 

 main-top, while a merchant vessel had his top-sails "a-trip." 

 Both were obdurate as to rendering the accustomed homage, 

 and in spite of the fact that Ketelby sent twenty shot "in 

 and through " the sides of the merchantman, she would not 

 lower her sails in the least. 2 



1 State Papers, Dom., ccxx. 25, 26. 



* Ibid., ccxxxiv. 5, 32. "The Ambassador and the other Lords being at dinner 

 in the great cabin, the gunner sent word that a Hollander was passing with his 

 top-sails a-trip, to whom he gave order to make a shot The Lords and gentlemen 

 left the table to see the event, but the Hollander, neither for that shot nor two 

 or three others, would lower the same one foot ; whereupon he gave order to shoot 

 him through, which was done, with as much speed as they could bring ordnance 

 to bear, so as before she passed she had twenty shot in and through her sides, 

 which they heard to crash in fche same. They could perceive but one piece she 

 had forth ; to that fire was given twice. The shot came not near, but they might 

 well hear the same. After her came the Admiral with his flag on the main-top." 

 Ketelby cleared for action and was giving orders for a broadside ; but the am- 

 bassador twice desired him to give over and stand for Dover, and he submitted. 

 If it had not been for his passengers, Ketelby did not doubt he would have brought 

 them in to answer the contempt. 



