SEAFIGHTS. 



The obftinate contefts on the coafts of Holland^ during the time of the Englljh 

 commonwealth, and in the fucceeding reign of Charles II. were attended wfth 

 torrents of the braveft blood of both the contending nations. The Dutch fought 

 not merely for glory, or the fweets of commerce, but latterly pro art's et focis. 

 Delenda eji Carthago was the maxim of one of Charles's miniflers, which animated 

 the Dutch to death or vidory. Naval fkill and defperate valour never were fo 

 ftrongly exhibited by any people. The combatants often fought with fleets of 

 eighty or a hundred line of battle fhips of a fide, furnifhed with every infernal en- 

 gine which the fubtlety of an animated enemy could invent. The great De Witte^ 

 foldier and ftatefman, firft introduced chain fliot in the celebrated fight of 

 FotjR DAYS, which ended in the defeat of the Dutch, on their own coaft, on 

 June 4th, 1666, notwithftanding we fufFered fo greatly by its ravages among our 

 rigging. The Dutch commanders were De Ruyter and Van Tromp, of different 

 fadions on fhore, and mortal enemies ; at fea they thought only of their country. 

 De Ruyter even faved his rival from the over- powering fire of the Engli/h ; having 

 a mind fuperior to the ruining of a party at home, at the expence of his country's 

 welfare ! ! ! 



The elder Van Tromp, the glory of Holland, loft his life in a fierce engagement 

 off the Texel, July 29th, 1653. Satiety of flaughter parted the combatants, and 

 adlual wearinefs. Van Tromp fell fword in hand, (hot through the heart, in the 

 very inftant of encouraging his men to refift to the laft moment of their lives. 

 This was a fight of three days! this was the true period of 

 obftinate conteft. 



yj, A dreadful battle commenced oS Leofjloff, in Suffolk, on June 3d, 1665, be- 



tween the Dutch under the command of Opdam, and the Englijh led by the duke 

 oiYork, before a crown had deprived him of his courage: he fought with the 

 trueft and moft perfevering bravery. The battle proved decifive. Opdam's fhip 

 was blown up : three Dutch admirals, befides him, were killed. It is faid that 

 the vidlory wouli have been more brilliant, but that during the night of purfuit, 

 after the engagement, orders were pretended, in the duke's name, to flacken fail: 

 they were unfortunately obeyed, and the total deftruflion of the Dutch fleet pre- 

 vented. This affair was ill enquired into : but not the left imputation fulHed the 

 character of his highnefs. We might be content with the vidlory. The Dutch 

 loft thirty fliips : eight thoufand men were taken. We loft but one fhip, and 

 had only eight hundred men killed or wounded. Many perfons of rank were 

 flain on board our fleet. The earl of Falmouth, a worthlefs favorite. Lord Muf~ 

 kmjy and Mr. Boyle^ of the noble family oi Burlington^ yyere killed on the quarter 



deck 



