422 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



Such conditions could only have been imposed on a nation 

 hopelessly vanquished. They were conditions, the ambassadors 

 declared, which would not be demanded from rebels or slaves. 

 On the English side there was a strong feeling that since 

 coalition had been rejected, the "security" for the future 

 ought to be rigorous and complete. It was still firmly be- 

 lieved by the mass of men, and doubtless by many in the 

 Council, that Tromp had attacked Blake in overwhelming 

 force in order to destroy the English fleet ; and that too by 

 the implicit or express orders of the States. There was doubt- 

 less also a desire to cripple Dutch commerce and power as far 

 as was possible. Commercial jealousy had long been simmer- 

 ing, and now that the English thought they had the power 

 they were resolved to use it to their own advantage. 1 



The Dutch deputies were astonished and indignant at the 

 English demands, which, as they sarcastically rioted in their 

 journal, they could scarcely reconcile with the professions of 

 friendship and the pious words of Cromwell. Had they com- 

 municated them to the States-General all thoughts of peace 

 would have been at an end, for it had required the most 

 adroit diplomacy of John de Witt to induce that body to 

 allow the negotiations to be set agoing. They therefore sent 

 home only an imperfect official account of them, pleading 

 that Cromwell had tied them down to the utmost secrecy, 2 

 and then proceeded to consider the articles themselves. Those 

 dealing with reparation, the Prince of Orange, the visitation 

 of ships, and the fishery, they decided absolutely to reject 

 as inadmissible, for reasons to be given later. The one which 

 proposed to limit their naval power in the adjacent seas 

 they resolved indignantly to refuse, and to break off the 

 negotiations rather than to agree even to discuss it, believing 

 that it was a matter in which all Christian princes in Europe 



1 Sir H. Vane, who was the chief director of the war, is reported to have said 

 that the interests of the two countries " were as irreconcilable as those of rivals, 

 trade being to both nations what a mistress is unto lovers ; that there never could 

 intervene any durable peace, except both nations did unite by coalition, or the 

 English subjugate the others and reduce them into a province, or by strict con- 

 ditions and contrivances ensure themselves against the growth and future puissance 

 of the Dutch." Stubbe, op. cit., 119. 



2 The Ambassadors to the States - General, November. Verbael, 215." 

 Geddes, i. 372. 



