390 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



ships with letters of marque allowed to leave without first pro- 

 viding security that they would not exceed their commissions. 

 One of the provisions went much further, and seems to smack 

 of Dutch humour, when we think of the action of James 

 and Charles. For the sake of liberty, both peoples were to use 

 their fleets, not only against pirates, but against all and sundry, 

 whomsoever they might be, who should attempt to molest, 

 hinder, or "against the right of all peoples" impose exac- 

 tions on their commerce, navigation, or their fishery. In such 

 an event, if amicable remonstrances failed, the whole sea forces 

 of each nation were to attack the depredators and wage war 

 against them until complete satisfaction had been obtained. 1 



So resolved were the Dutch to have a general clearing -up 

 with England on all points concerning the sovereignty of the 

 sea, that they at first proposed to insert among their draft 

 articles one relating to the striking of the flag and similar 

 ceremonies, which frequently gave rise to differences. The 

 States-General, however, considered the matter " too delicate " 

 to be raised at that time, and the article was not inserted. 2 

 Two or three months before this, as elsewhere mentioned 

 (p. 398), the question of striking the flag to the English had 

 been raised and debated in the States -General in connection 

 with Tromp's expedition to the Scilly Islands. 



With the foregoing proposals before him, it is not to be 

 wondered at that St John was dissatisfied, and longed more 

 than ever to get away from The Hague. The Commonwealth 

 had asked for a strict and close alliance at the very least, 

 for the security of religious and political liberty and the 

 common interests of both Republics, but in reality and above 

 all for aid against the royalists. The Dutch also desired 

 security for liberty, but it was chiefly for the liberty of 

 commerce, navigation, and fishing; and they were anxious, 

 if they could, to get rid of the troublesome English pretension 

 to a sovereignty of the sea. The proposals of the two sides 

 were incompatible, and St John left The Hague a few days 



1 Articles 17-33, Narrative of the Ambassadors. These articles are given in 

 Appendix K. Tideman, op. cit., 50. Aitzema, op. cit., iii. 695. 



2 " Over het strijken van vlaggen ende andere Ceremonieen daeruyt meenichmael. 



differentien in zee coomen te ontstaen." Resol. dcr Groote Vergadering, ^- May 

 1651. Tideman, op. cit., 52. 



