316 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



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

 that Arundel's mission to Vienna would make other aid 

 unnecessary. 1 Arundel was recalled in September; it was 

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

 Beveren saw his opportunity. Through a trustworthy friend 2 

 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 soldiers, 

 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 arrived 

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

 not give up his claim to an acknowledgment of his rights. 

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

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

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

 ledgment " was insisted on. Nevertheless, these private nego- 

 tiations continued, and finally a draft treaty was prepared 

 embodying two proposals. The first agreed well enough with 

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

 should be equipped to which England should contribute thirty 

 ships and 8000 men, and the States fifteen ships and 4000 

 men; and France was to be asked to furnish the same force 

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

 and effect a landing. The second proposal related to the fishery, 

 and it provided that while these operations were going on, 

 the Dutch herring fishermen would be allowed to fish freely 

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

 Queen Elizabeth and King James, approaching the coasts 

 near enough to carry on their fishing profitably, and to dry 



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. 



