322 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



out the fleet, and occasioned both hilarity and indignation. 

 When Fielding left, Pennington expressed the opinion to 

 his friend Nicholas that the attempt would fail and would 

 bring greater inconveniences in its train. On his return, 

 Northumberland said it would have been much better if 

 the king had absolutely forborne his request to the Dutch 

 than have demanded it in the manner he did. After the 

 successful campaign of the year before, Charles was now 

 practically warned off his own seas, "as he is pleased," said 

 Pennington, " to call them." : It was a pitiful position for 

 the Sovereign of the Seas, with a great armada lying idle 

 at the Downs and his bombastic declarations still echoing 

 in the ears of Europe. 



As soon as it was known at Court that the story had got 

 out, Windebank was commanded to take such measures as 

 he could to contradict it. To duplicity was added mendacity. 

 Fielding in his report had described an occurrence he wit- 

 nessed on returning along the coast to Scarborough. Thirteen 

 Dunkirkers had attacked a Dutch man-of-war, and as the 

 Unicorn came upon the scene the latter sank, and the 

 English captain unsuccessfully endeavoured to save the 

 drowning men. Windebank seized upon this incident. He 

 wrote to Captain Fogg, who was in command of the ships 

 in the Downs in the absence of the Admiral, that the report 

 spread about that the Hollanders had refused his Majesty's 

 licenses to fish in his seas was "utterly mistaken." Fielding 

 had not been sent to offer licenses to the busses, but to 

 tender the king's protection. His Majesty, hearing "that 

 the Dunkirkers had prepared a great strength to intercept 

 them in their return from the fishing," had sent Fielding, 

 "in love to them," to give them notice of it, and to offer 

 them safe - conduct. " This," said Windebank, " you are 

 publicly to advow whensoever there shall be occasion, and 

 to cry down the other discourse as scandalous and derogatory 

 to his Majesty's honour." 2 Similar directions were sent to 

 the Earl of Northumberland. 



1 Pennington to Nicholas, 10th July, State Papers, Dom., ccclxiii. 99 ; 

 Northumberland to Sir Thomas Roe, 6th August, ibid., ccclxv. 28 ; Pennington 

 to Northumberland, 20th May, ibid., ccclvii. 15, ii. 



2 Windebank to Fogg, Aug. 10. Ibid., ccclxv. 51. With reference to this letter 

 of Windebank's, the following note by Secretary Williamson was made on the copy 



