CHARLES I. : THE NAVY 335 



Dutch Republic, and what perhaps he felt quite as much at 

 the time it robbed him of all chance of blackmailing Spain. 

 When that Power was asked to pay the great sum above 

 mentioned, the Cardinal Infant put the proposal aside, con- 

 sidering that it was the king's own interest to protect the 

 Spanish fleet; and when Tromp's precipitation broke in on 

 the negotiations, it was decided to withhold any payment at 

 all until it was seen how Charles would resent the injury done 

 to Spain. 1 At first he resolved to punish the affront. Pen- 

 nington was ordered to cause the Dutch fleet, which had re- 

 turned to the Downs, and was suspected of meditating further 

 " insolency " by falling upon the stranded galleons, to im- 

 mediately quit the road. The king, he was told, had made up 

 his mind not to allow them the liberty of his ports or roads 

 ;< until he shall have received satisfaction for the insolency 

 already committed." If they refused to leave, Pennington, 

 immediately the other ten ships had reinforced him, was to 

 drive them out with all his power and strength, or answer 

 the contrary at his uttermost peril. Before these orders could 

 be executed, Tromp voluntarily departed. 2 Copies of the 

 letter to Pennington were sent to Brussels and Madrid to 

 show the Spaniards that the king was full of resolution. 

 They were told he was very sensible of the affront and in- 

 solence of the Hollanders, and " would make such demonstra- 

 tion of it, and demand and expect such reparation as in 

 honour he is obliged." But he was quite unable to carry out 

 his good intention. It was in vain that he was urged from 

 Madrid to take strong measures against the Dutch ; to seize 

 their property ; even to invade Normandy as a punishment to 

 their ally. 3 He had no fleet and no money to enable him to 

 cope with the Dutch Republic, even if the condition of home 

 affairs had permitted the attempt. On the contrary, to such 

 a level had he fallen by his stubborn ineptitude that the 

 English Minister at The Hague was ordered to avoid even a 



1 Leslie to Windebank, llth Oct. ; Gage to Windebank, Oct. Col. Clar. Mate 



Papers, i. 1309, 1313. 



a Northumberland to Pennington, 15th Oct. Mate Papers, Doni., ccccxxxL 18, 30 ; 

 Col. Clar. State Papers, i. 1324. 



3 Windebank to Gerbier, 18th Oct. State Papers, Dam.., ccccxxxi. 35. Gage to 



Windebank, -^ Nov. Paper delivered by Hopton to King of Spain, 24th Nov. Cal. 

 Clar. State Papers, i. 1321, 1324. 



