Chapter VIII: Naval Actions of the War Between England and Holland. A. D

1652-3.

The Dutch Supreme on the Sea; The Commonwealth and the United
Provinces; Negotiations for an Alliance Broken Off; An English
Commodore Fires into a Dutch Fleet; Van Tromp sent to Avenge this
Insult; Blake in Command of the English; The English Temporarily
Masters in the Channel; Great Naval Preparations in Holland; The
South of England at Van Tromp’s Mercy; Blake Collects his Fleet
to meet Van Tromp; A Storm Scatters Both; The Dutch People
Dissatisfied with Van Tromp; He Resigns; De Witt Assumes Chief
Command; Blake Meets the French Fleet under Vendome; He Captures
the Latter’s Fleet; Battle of North Foreland; De Witt Withdraws
at Nightfall; Van Tromp to the Front Again; Denmark Declares
Against the Commonwealth; The Dutch and English Meet in the
English Channel; Blake Beaten; Van Tromp Sails Up and Down the
Channel with a Broom at his Masthead; Battle off Portland; A
Decisive Engagement; Van Tromp Escorts Dutch Merchantmen into
Port; Discontent in the Dutch Fleet; Terrible Loss on Both Sides;
Blake Learns of a New Fleet Fitted out by Van Tromp in April;
They Meet Again; A Two Days’ Battle; Another Effort Two Months
Later; The Brave Van Tromp Killed; The Power of Holland Broken:
The States General Sues for Peace. I-112