Chapter VII: CHARLES I.--continued. THE NAVY

Need of a strong navy--Insecurity of seas from pirates--Violations of
King’s Chambers and ports by Dutch and Dunkirkers--Proclamation
concerning same and claiming sovereignty of sea--Charles’s
private policy to recover the Palatinate--Negotiations for alliance
with Spain against the Dutch--Pretexts for creating a fleet--The
ship-money writs--Feeling in Holland--Coke’s despatch on the
dominion of England in the seas--The first ship-money fleet,
under the Earl of Lindsey--His instructions--All hostilities in
narrow seas to be prevented--Previous instructions to Pennington
compared--The king’s private instructions--Their object--Lindsey’s
queries--Proceedings of the fleet--Rumours in London--Friction
with the admiral--Fails to meet the French fleet--Richelieu’s
strategy, and proposals as to salute--Licenses for Dutch
herring-busses--Lindsey quits the fleet--Discontent at his failure--The
question of the salute becomes very prominent--Doubts
and queries as to the custom in enforcing it--Practice on foreign
coasts--Between ships and forts--Arrogance of English captains--Usual
compliance of the Dutch--British merchantmen the
worst offenders 246