Chapter XII: Charles II

THE SECOND DUTCH WAR.

Pretension to sovereignty of sea maintained--Efforts to revive
the fisheries--Legislation--Bill against foreigners fishing
on British coasts--Act of Scottish Parliament--Council of the
Royal Fishery of Great Britain and Ireland appointed--The
scheme receives little public support--Slovenly management of
the Society’s affairs--Negotiations with Dutch regarding the
sovereignty of the sea, the flag, and the fishery--Attitude of
De Witt--His negotiations with France--Treaty concluded with
Louis XIV. guaranteeing mutual protection to fishermen--Downing
and De Witt--Treaty of London--Article on flag--Ignorance at
Admiralty as to practice in striking--Second Dutch war--Causes
of--De Ruyter in the Thames--Licenses for fishing offered to
Dutch and refused--Grant of fishing rights to Bruges--Effect of
the war on the fisheries--Dispute between Dutch and French as to
salute--Peace conference at Breda--Claim to fishery withdrawn by
Charles--Treaty article on flag--The term British Seas restricted
to the Channel--Ambiguities regarding the practice of striking--De
Witt’s proposals to Temple for a “Regulation”--The Dutch ambassadors
discuss the matter with Charles--Their declaration about striking
to a frigate or ketch--Practice of striking described--Denmark also
proposes a “Regulation”--De Witt’s intrigues at Paris regarding the
salute disclosed to Charles--Arrangement between France and England
as to striking--Admiralty give close attention to the rules--Foreign
disputes about the salute--General order by the States of Holland 441