428 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



moved by a sincere desire to benefit England. The belief 

 was still prevalent that the herring fishery which the Dutch 

 carried on along the British coasts was the foundation of 

 their commerce, wealth, and naval power. It, moreover, pro- 

 vided them with a great "seminary of seamen" to recruit 

 their fleets a consideration which must have had a special 

 force at a time when we had only the ships in the coal 

 trade between Newcastle and London to draw upon for ours, 

 and when the most rigorous system of pressing failed to 

 provide sufficient men for the navy. 1 But Cromwell had 

 other reasons for insisting on the English claims, even to the 

 point of rupture of the negotiations. It was by this time 

 obvious that the Barebones or nominated Parliament had 

 only a short life before it, and it was desirable that its 

 dissolution should be free from violence and as far as possible 

 voluntary. The majority of the members were strongly 

 opposed to the Dutch, and to the conclusion of peace except 

 on humiliating terms to the enemy ; and it is probable that 

 Cromwell's insistence was partly due to his desire to con- 

 ciliate them. He was now about to put on the mantle of 

 the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. 



When the Dutch envoys wrote to the Council for their 

 passports, they received no answer. On repeating their re- 

 quest two days later, they got a hint of what was impending, 

 that the Parliament which was against them would soon be 

 dissolved, and the management of affairs placed in the hands 

 of a council of ten or twelve. 2 Then on the 9th December 

 they were asked by Viscount Lisle, in the name of the Council, 

 to delay their departure, as commissioners would soon be 

 appointed to treat with them and conclude the treaty. Crom- 

 well took the oath as Lord Protector on the 16th ; the new 

 Council of State met on the 19th; and the conferences on the 

 treaty were resumed four days later. 3 



1 Stubbe, op. cit., 68. Robinson, England's Safety in Trades JKncrease, 1641. 

 Ibid., Considerations Concerning the Advancement of Trade and Navigation, 1649. 



2 The Deputies to the States-General, ~ December 1653. Verbael, 246. 



3 It may be noted that Philip Meadows now became Latin Secretary to the 

 Council in place of Milton. He was afterwards an extremely able opponent of 

 the English claims to the sovereignty of the sea, and wrote the best book against 

 them. See p. 524. 



