not be induced to take any repose.

Both fleets made

good their damages, in readiness for the struggle of the morrow. Guns were cleaned; leaks were stopped; new rigging rove; sails refitted; and masts, yards, and spars repaired.

On the following morning the Dutch were descried about seven leagues off Weymouth; their fleet drawn up in the shape of a crescent, whose convex side was presented to their opponents; and in their rear, sheltered by the converging horns of the crescent, two hundred merchantmen-the whole standing up Channel, under a press of sail, with a light but favourable wind. Blake followed closely in their track, and came up with the rearmost ships about 12 o'clock. Two hours later, and off Dungeness, he was joined by almost all his fleet, and the strife again began. It was desperately fought, but the courage and "solidarity" of the Saxon prevailed, and Tromp retreated towards his own coast, with a loss of five men-of-war, either taken or sunk. And still worse. Several of his captains, disheartened by their repulse or impatient through personal prejudice, refused to fight any longer, so that Tromp could only order them to take up a station to the windward of the tradingvessels, and check by their presence the advance of the English frigates. But the manœuvre was understood by Blake, and its real purport detected. He sent in pursuit of them a squadron of fast sailers, while with the mass of his fleet he pressed upon his retreating foe. Thus the third day's battle ended in the complete victory of the English. Night's "sacred shade" saved. the Dutch from annihilation, by enabling them to escape into the Calais roads. As it was, they bewailed the loss,

ACCESSION OF CROMWELL.

155

in the triple engagement, of II men-of-war captured, burned, or sunk; 60 traders taken; 1500 officers and men slain, and 700 made prisoners.

Exultant England hastened, with unanimous gratitude, to recognize and reward the brilliant valour and matchless constancy which had secured a triumph so complete. Each of the three admirals-Blake, Monk, and Deanereceived from the Parliament a special letter of thanks. Provision was made for the wives and children of the heroes who had died in their country's service. Shining windows and blazing bonfires proclaimed the turbulent joy of London; and the bells rang merrily in every town which witnessed the long procession of prisoners on their dreary way to the metropolitan jails.

It was now that Cromwell seized the reins of government in his own vigorous hands, and dissolved the Long Parliament, which had unfortunately outlived its own fame, and the gratitude of the nation (April 20 and 21, 1653). Blake had gone northward on a cruise along the Scottish coast; but on his return he gave in his adhesion to the new government. He accepted the fact, which he could not hope to nullify. Cromwell was ruler by consent of the nation, and it was sufficient for Blake, who thought only of his country's glory, and disregarded the struggles of political factions, to feel assured that under the great soldier the honour of England would be secure; its best interests protected and developed. "It is not for us," he said to his captains, "to mind affairs of state, but to keep foreigners from fooling us." And with good heart, therefore, he once more concentrated his squadrons to confront the formidable armada which Holland, humbled but not subdued,

was preparing to launch against her rivals. He himself sailed with a few cruisers for the North Seas, leaving Monk in the supreme command of one of the finest fleets which England had fitted out. Monk and Deane, with the Red flag, led the first division, of 38 ships, carrying 1440 guns, 6169 men; Penn, with the White flag, the second division, of 33 sail, 1189 guns, and 5085 men; and Lawson, the Blue division, of 34 sail, carrying 1189 guns, and 5015 men. In all, 105 ships, 3815 guns, and 16,269 men.

The Dutch armament was of about equal strength. Many of the vessels were new; for the States had attributed their defeat in previous actions to the larger size of the English ships, and had set their dockyards to work that the deficiency might be remedied. They were manned by the best sailors of Holland, and led by its three best admirals: Van Tromp as chief, and De Witt and De Ruyter as seconds.

As soon as Blake learned that the Dutch had sailed from the Texel, he crowded on every stitch of canvas his yards would carry, to share in the approaching battle. Though, perhaps, disapproving of the military rule established by Cromwell, and though he had been superseded in the chief command by Monk, no mean jealousy or useless resentment sullied his noble character. Enough for him that his country required his sword. He was great in act, as in thought, and courted neither the plaudits of the vulgar nor the approval of unthinking crowds. "The hero," as Sir Philip Sidney says, "passes through the multitude, as a man that neither disdains a people, nor yet is anything tickled with their vanity." His pure, calm soul was touched only by high and virtuous im

THE MELEE OF BATTLE.

157

pulses, and his life was one great lesson of duty which the men of a later age will do well to learn.

That borrow their behaviours from the great,

Grow great by his example, and put on

The dauntless spirit of resolution."-SHAKSPEARE.

Early on the morning of the 2nd of June 1654, the Dutch fleet was discovered about two leagues off the Gable. The English instantly bore down upon them, Lawson leading the van, and, cutting off De Ruyter's division from the main body of the Dutch, engaged it with a terrible fury. About noon Van Tromp came up to his second's assistance, and the engagement became general. But in the first hour of the fight fell the gallant Deane, cut in two by a cannonshot. Monk calmly unfastened the cloak from his own shoulders, and flung it, pall-like, over the corpse of his brother-officer, lest the death of one whom his seamen particularly loved should discourage them.* "Here appeared," says a naval historian, "the wisdom of having both admirals on board the same ship, for as no flag was taken in, the fleet had no notice of this accident, but the fight continued with the same warmth as if it had not happened." About 3 o'clock the Dutch fell into great confusion, and Tromp saw himself obliged to make a running fight till 9 in the evening, when a stout ship, commanded by Cornelius Van Kelsen, blew up. This accident increased their consternation, and though Tromp used every method in his power to oblige the

* Deane "had grown," says Clarendon, "from a common mariner to the reputation of a bold and excellent officer." He was well acquainted with the duties of his profession, and much beloved by his men.

opponent, who had occupied his leisure in the pursuit and destruction of a French squadron destined for the relief of beleaguered Dunkirk.

The Dutch and English fleets sighted each other off the North Foreland, on the 28th of September 1652. They were about equal in force, fifty-nine men-of-war, besides frigates, fire-ships, and sloops. As soon as Blake perceived his enemy, he bore up with a fresh wind towards them, though the main body of his fleet was some leagues in the rear.* At about 4 P.M., most of his ships had come up, and the battle began, the admiral, in the Resolution, closely followed by William Penn, in the James. The Dutch fought admirably, and though compelled to retreat, retreated fighting, until night came down upon the waters, and put an end to the engagement. Three Dutch men-of-war were sunk; one blew up; and the rear-admiral's ship was captured. But the Hollanders lost still more in prestige; for it was now patent to all Europe that the comparatively inexperienced seamen of the Commonwealth could successfully contend with the ablest admirals of the States.

The Dutch, next day, declined to renew the battle, and retreated towards their own shores, closely pursued by the English, who inflicted upon them a considerable loss.

The tidings of Blake's victory filled the heart of England with joy, and the Parliament, elated with success, felt so disdainful of their powerful enemy, that they thought it safe to reduce the English fleet to forty ships. But it is always best to over-rate the strength of a foe. The Dutch made silent but desperate efforts to retrieve

* Lediard, "Naval History of England" (ed. 1735); Campbell, "Lives of the British Admirals" (ed. 1812-17).