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 Though, perhaps, disapproving of the military rule established by Cromwell, and though he had been superseded in the chief command by Monk, no mean jealousy or useless resentment sullied his noble character.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

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

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.

officers to do their duty, and even fired upon such vessels as drew out of the line, his persuasions and his threats were equally ineffectual. Night came on, and left the battle undecided, but inclining against the Dutch.

The morning dawned, and the English looked eagerly around for the streaming pennons of their beloved Blake, Fortunately Tromp knew not that his squadron was expected, and wasted the long summer morning in attempts to gain the weather-gage. About noon, however, the action recommenced, and was fought with obstinate courage, nor did it determine for either side until Blake came up, and with his powerful artillery smote terror into the hearts of the Hollanders.

At 4 o'clock the fight was over, and the pursuit began. Tromp surpassed even his previous heroism in heroic endeavours to arouse the courage of his men. Urged! by his impassioned entreaties, they boarded Penn's flagship, the James, but were quickly beaten back, and the Brederode was entered at the same time by the English crew, who would probably have seized her, but that Tromp, resolved to avoid the shame of capture, flung a light into the powder-magazine, and blew up the ship. The explosion caused the bravest to hold their breath for a time. The air was literally darkened with crashing timbers and mutilated bodies. Tromp, as if by a miracle, escaped with slight contusions; but a rumour of his death running through the fleet, shook the hearts of his followers with panic fear. Throwing himself on board a quick-sailing frigate, he moved from ship to ship, in the vain hope of animating his men to do their duty; but so general was the confusion, and so complete the discomfiture, that no resource was left him but to

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order a retreat. Monk and Blake pursued with a favouring gale, and only stayed their destroying hands when night closed in upon the retreating foe.

This great blow completely broke the power of the States, and though they made one desperate effort more, two months later, it may be said to have determined the issue of the war. They had lost eleven large ships captured and ten destroyed; 1350 prisoners, including two rear-admirals and six captains, and nearly 3000 killed and wounded. And yet this victory-so complete, so glorious-did but cost the victors 126 men killed and 236 wounded. The superiority of English seamen in naval gunnery was asserted even at this early period.

Blake and Monk now proceeded to blockade the Dutch fleet in the Texel, and make sad havoc among their homeward-bound merchantmen. But the hero's increasing illness compelled him to return to England, where he was received with a noble welcome. It fell to Monk to deliver the last great blow of the war, and crush the remnant of Holland's formidable armadas, on the 29th of July 1653. In this last and most sanguinary battle, Van Tromp received a musket-shot in the heart. Monk had previously issued a memorable and most characteristic order through his ships, which were in number about equal to the Dutch force. "He had found by experience, he said, that the taking of the ships of the enemy consumed much precious time, while the sending the ships so taken into a place of security necessitated the detaching other ships from the fleet to conduct them, and so weakened his force. He therefore gave positive instructions to the captains that no English ships should surrender to the enemy, and that they should

accept no surrender of the vessels against which they fought. Their business was, not to take ships, but to sink and destroy to the extent of their power. Another circumstance, not less sagacious or cold-blooded, was observed in his conduct on this famous occasion. He sent out a sudden order to transpose the captains of the merchantmen, which had been placed by him in the battle. In the former engagement he had found that they committed themselves somewhat too cautiously, out of tenderness they had to the freight, which belonged to their owners."

Peace was now concluded between the two countries, the States acceding to the Protector's stipulations, and consenting to acknowledge the honour of the English flag. Then Cromwell and his Parliament proceeded to reward the heroes by whose exertions the naval supremacy of England had been established. Gold chains, valued each at £300, were presented to Blake and Monk; and chains of £100 value to Penn and Lawson. Penn was presented to the rank of general-at-sea; Lawson to that of vice-admiral. A sum of £1040 was expended in medals. Bonfires, and lighted windows, and public rejoicings in the festal streets, witnessed to the exultation of Englishmen at the successful close of the first great war with the Dutch (April 1654).

* Forster, "Lives of Eminent British Statesmen."