THE THIRD DUTCH WAR 497 



and disposal" of all fishes "as they shall seem to deserve 

 the regards of the public" a somewhat cryptic claim; (2) 

 the prescribing of the laws of navigation to foreigners as well 

 as to the king's own subjects; (3) the power of imposing 

 customs and taxes upon those navigating or fishing in them ; 

 (4) jurisdiction in regard to maritime delinquencies; (5) the 

 duty of foreign ships to strike their flags and lower their 

 top-sails to the king's "floating castles," the ships of war, by 

 which "submission they are put in remembrance that they 

 have come into a territory wherein they are to own a sov- 

 ereign power and jurisdiction, and receive protection from it." 

 It was admitted that the sea was free for commerce and 

 innocent passage ; but both might be refused if there was 

 suspicion of danger, and that the imposition of tribute for 

 fishing, convoy, or the maintenance of lights and beacons 

 did not infringe the liberty of commerce. 



The work appears to have pleased his employers, for im- 

 mediately after its publication Stubbe began the composition 

 of another on the same lines to vindicate the "honour" of 

 his Majesty and the kingdom. In this he wished very much 

 to deal with the lampoons and " scandalous pictures " circulated 

 in Holland, "thereby to raise a due passion and resentment 

 in the English," especially one which represented the English 

 ambassadors at Breda kneeling in supplication to their High 

 Mightinesses the States-General; and Sir Joseph Williamson, 

 who was then in Holland with Buckingham and Arlington, was 

 asked to bring over specimens of these. He told Williamson 

 that in his new work, which he proposed to entitle "An 

 Apology for the King's Majesty's Declaration, By an Old 

 Commonwealth Man," he would represent to the English 

 people his Majesty's "generous concern for his subjects' wel- 

 fare and trade," and his admirable prudence in the noble 

 conduct of affairs ; he would excuse his stop of the Exchequer 

 and the Declaration of Indulgence, and descant upon the 

 growth of the Dutch by contumelies to the king and nation. 

 Stubbe was also anxious to obtain, besides the pictures and 

 medals, a manuscript book which he had seen, containing an 

 account of the transactions between the Dutch and the 

 Commonwealth. This was in the possession of Thurloe, who 

 had been Secretary under Cromwell, and he refused to pro- 



2i 



