Chapter LXII: Appendix: M

(P. 404.)

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN TROMP AND BLAKE.

(De Zee Betwist. Geschiedenis der Onderhandelingen over de Zeeheerschappij tusschen de Engelsche Republiek en de Vereenigde Provinciën vóór den eersten Zee-Oorlog. Dr M. C. Tideman.)

MONS^R,

Le 19/29 du Mois passé nous entrerencontrans en mer mon invention [_sic_: intention?] estoit de vous saluer, mais me voyant attacquée de la sorte, et n’ayant peu scavoir la vostre puisque devant ny apres ladite rencontre je n’ay parlé a personne des vostres ne doubtant toutesfois nullemant (selon que m’a tesmoigné Mons^r. le Commandeur Born, par les responses qu’il a faictes et données a celuy que je luy envoyois pour luy communiquer mon ordre et sincere Intention) que ne soions amis et bons alliez, fus contraint, comme un homme d’honneur, tant seulement de me defendere, mais d’autant que aujourdhuy, estant a lancre devant Calais on ma rapporté, qu’un de nos Navires le Capiteyne Tuynemans de Middelbourg auroit este emmené a vostre Rade aux d’unes, lequel je croiois estre coulé en fond, comme celuy seul qu’il nous defailloit. C’est pourquoi je vous supplie en toute amitie que ce soit votre plasir, que ledit navire nous soit rendu et mis en main du porteur de ceste, en forme qu’il a este prins, et me promets, que la bonne alliance et union entre Messeigneurs les Estats de Vostre et de nostre Republycque, nostre Religion et mutuelle amitié fera, que ne voudres le refuser, Sur quoy me tiendray obligé de demeurer, comme veritablement je suis,

Monsieur,

Vostre Tres humble Serviteur,
(Signé) M. HARP^{TS}. TROMP.

En notre navire _Le Brederode_ le 2^e Junij
1652 a la Rade de Calais.

The superscription was:--

A Monsieur,

Monsieur N. N. Blake, Collonel et Admirael au Service de Messeigneurs les Estats de la Republicque d’Angleterre, ou en son absence au Commandant a present aux d’unes.

Gardiner (Letters and Papers, 257) gives Blake’s reply “retranslated from the Dutch translation.” The original, which was appended to Tromp’s letter to the States-General, is given by Tideman, as follows, from _Lias Admiraliteit_: Bijvoegsel bij Tromps brief aan H. Ho. Mo. uit Ostende d. d. 10 Juni 1652.

S^r,

Y^r Letter of the second of June 1652 stilo novo, brought by yo^r Messenger, was read by mee not without much wonder that you stiling yo^r selfe a person off honor should insert therin toe great mistakes after yo^r seeking out the ffleet of the Parliament of the Comonwealth of England instead of performing those usuall respects which off right belong unto them and which yo^r selve have often done, you were pleased to beginn acts off hostility which you call yo^r owne defence against the commonwealth, without the least provocation on the part of their servants thus assaulted by you, and at a time when yo^r Superiours, and their Ambassadors with the Parlyament were in a Treaty and desire of friendshipp with the Comonwealth of England, but that God in whome wee trust, having defeated your purposes of our destruction and some off yo^r ships taken, you thincke fitt to demaund the same off us as if yo^r former accord had been as you call it but a salutation and when that fayled, you would second yo^r high affronts by yo^r paper to which I doe not thincke fitt to returne any other Answere, But that I presume you will find the Parlyament sensible of these greate Iniuries and of the Losse off the innocent bloud of their Countrymen, And you will find likewise ready to obey their comandts,

Yo^r humble Servant,
ROB: BLAKE.

DOWNES, _29th May 1652_.