THE FIRST DUTCH WAR 405 



by expose this Commonwealth to invasion at their pleasure." l 

 It was in vain that the States disowned responsibility for 

 Tromp's action and sent over a copy of their instructions to 

 him, showing that he had been commanded to avoid the 

 English coast. The ambassadors appealed to the Council to 

 hold their hand until the States-General had made an inquiry. 

 Tromp was cautioned to use the greatest circumspection, so 

 that while preserving the reputation of his country, nothing 

 further should be done to widen the breach with England. And 

 now, when too late, the Dutch Government came to a definite 

 decision as to the striking of the flag. Tromp was expressly 

 ordered to strike his flag on meeting the English fleet, accord- 

 ing to the manner that had been customary when England was 

 under its kings ; and not to attack them, but only to defend 

 himself if assailed. 2 



The States also sent over a special ambassador, Adrian Pauw, 

 the Grand Pensionary of Holland, and the most venerable and 

 influential personage in the Republic, to assure the Parliament 

 of their pacific intentions, and to strive to maintain peace. He 

 urged that the encounter of the fleets should be looked upon as 

 an "accident," and that a joint inquiry should be made and 

 the admiral found to have been in fault duly punished. He 

 proposed, further, that regulations should be drawn up for the 

 fleets, so that in future such disputes might be avoided, not, 

 he said, that it was the wish of the States to dispute the 

 honour and the dignity of the English Republic, which they 

 esteemed the first and greatest in Europe. 3 But the Parliament 

 insisted that the States should first pay them the costs and 

 compensate them for the injuries they had sustained by the 

 Dutch naval preparations and Tromp's attack, and give 

 security for an alliance between the two countries. Mean- 

 while, the Parliament had been seizing Dutch vessels and 

 preparing for war, while in the United Provinces feeling was 



1 The A nwoer of the Parliament, p. 4. 



2 Rewl. St. -Gen., ?-. May , ^ June 1652. Tideman, De Zee Betiritt, 164. Ar- 



' 4 June' IS 



ticulen van Vreede ende Confederatie, &c. Brit. Mus., 8122, ee. 12 " Dat hij 

 aengaen het voeren ofte strijcken van vlagge in de Rencontre mette Engelsche 

 Vlooten of Schepen hem bij provisie respectivelijck sal hebben te gedragen en te 

 reguleren in sulcker voegen als bij tijden van voorgaende Coningen van Groot- 

 Britaignen is gedaan ende gepractiaeert geweest." 



3 Tideman, 171. 



