alliance had been renewed between England and the states. This circumstance, however, was overlooked in the general jealousy of the Hollanders; who, by their persevering industry, as well as by other means, had of late greatly hurt the foreign trade of the English merchants. The king was resolved on a war, from which, in consequence of his superior naval force, he hoped to derive vast advantages; and being warmly seconded in his views by the city and parliament, sir Robert Holmes was secretly despatched with a squadron to the coast of Africa; where he not only expelled the Dutch from Cape Corse, to which the English had some pretensions, but seized their settlements of Cape Verde and the isle of Goree, together with several trading vessels. Another squadron sailed soon after to North America, with three hundred men on board, under the command of sir Richard Nicholas, who took possession of the Dutch settlement of Nova Belgia, afterward called New-York, in honour of the duke, who had obtained a grant of it from his brother.(1)

Since the death of William II. prince of Orange, who attempted, as we have already seen, to encroach on the liberties of the republic of Holland, the Dutch, conformable to their perpetual edict, had elected no stadtholder. The government had continued wholly in the hands of the Louvestein, or violent republican party, who were declared enemies against the house of Orange. This state of the affairs of the United Provinces could not be very agreeable to the king of England, who must naturally desire to see his nephew, William III., reinstated in that authority possessed by his ancestors. He is even suspected of a design, in conjunction with his brother, of rendering the young prince absolute, and bringing the states to a dependence on England. It is at least certain, that the famous John De Wit, pensionary of Holland, who was the soul of the republican party, and vested with almost dictatorial powers, afraid of some such design, had, soon after the restoration, entered into close alliance with France. (2) This has since been thought bad policy: and it must be owned, that De Wit's antipathy against the family of Orange led him into measures not always advantageous to his country; but it ought at the same time to be remembered, that neither the genius of Lewis XIV. nor the resources of the French monarchy were then known.

De Wit, equally distinguished by his magnanimity, ability, and integrity, and who knew how to blend the moderate deportment of the private citizen with the dignity of the minister of state-De Wit, who had laid it down as a maxim, that no independent state ought ever tamely to suffer any breach of equity from another, whatever their disparity in force-when informed of the hostilities of England, did not hesitate a moment how to act. He immediately sent orders to De Ruyter, who was cruising with a fleet in the Mediterranean, for the purpose of chastising the piratical states of Barbary, to sail towards the coast of Guinea, and put the Hollanders again in possession of those settlements from which they had been violently expelled. The Dutch admiral, who had a considerable body of land forces on board, recovered all the conquests of the English on the coast of Africa, except Cape Corse castle. He even dispossessed them of some of their old settlements; and sailing for America, he insulted Barbadoes, committed hostilities on Long Island, and took a considerable number of ships. (3)

A declaration of war was the consequence of these mutual hostilities, and both sides prepared for the most vigorous exertions of their naval strength. By the prudent management of De Wit, a spirit of union was preserved among the states; great sums were levied; and a navy, composed of larger ships than the Dutch had ever before sent to sea, was speedily equipped. Charles, who was perfectly acquainted with naval architecture, went himself from port to port, inspecting the dock-yards, and hastening the preparations. Sailors flocked from all quarters; and James duke of York, the king's brother, who had been originally designed for the head of the navy, and

(1) King James's Memoirs. This territory, as lying within the line of the English discoveries, had been formerly granted by James I. to the earl of Stirling; but it had never been planted except by the Dutch (2) Basnage. Temple. Burnet. (3) Id.ibid.

was now lord high-admiral of England, put to sea with a fleet of a hundred sail, besides fireships and bomb-ketches, and stood for the coast of Holland. Prince Rupert and the earl of Sandwich commanded under him. The Dutch fleet, of at least equal force, was commanded by admiral Opdam, in conjunction with Evertson and young Tromp, son to the famous admiral of that name, killed in the former war. They declined not the combat. The sea was smooth, and not a cloud to be seen in the sky. The duke of York, in the royal Charles, bore down upon Opdam, and a furious battle began. The contest was continued for four hours with great obsti nacy: at length Opdam's ship blew up; and the Dutch, discouraged by the awful fate of their admiral and his gallant crew, fled towards the Texel.(1) They lost near thirty ships, and their whole fleet might have been sunk or taken, had the English made a proper use of their victory. But, unfor tunately, about midnight, orders were given to shorten sail;(2) so that, at morning, no hopes of overtaking the enemy remained. And thus was neglected an opportunity of destroying the naval force of the Dutch, which never returned in this or in any succeeding war. The English lost only one ship.

The joy arising from the duke of York's naval victory, so highly extolled by the adherents of the court, was much diminished by the breaking out of the plague, which carried off near a hundred thousand persons in London in one year. The melancholy apprehensions occasioned by this calamity, added to the horrors of war, were increased by the prospect of new enemies. Lewis XIV. was obliged to assist the Dutch, in consequence of his alliance with De Wit and the states; and the king of Denmark, who was jealous of the naval power of England, engaged to furnish thirty ships in support of the same cause, for an annual subsidy of fifteen hundred thousand crowns.(3) De Wit, however, who was now blamed as the author of the war, did not trust to these alliances. He not only forwarded the naval preparations, but went on board the fleet himself; and so extensive was his genius, that he soon became as much master of sea affairs, as if he had been bred to them from his infancy. By his courage and capacity, he quickly remedied all the disorders occasioned by the late misfortune; infused new confidence into his party, and revived the declining valour of his countrymen.(4)

In order to balance so formidable a combination, Charles attempted, but without success, to negotiate an alliance with Spain. Conscious, however, that Lewis could have no serious purpose of exalting the power of Holland, and elated with recent success, he was not alarmed at the number of his enemies; though every shore was hostile to the English seamen, from the extremity of Norway to the coast of Bayonne. A formidable fleet of seventyeight sail of the line, commanded by the duke of Albemarle and prince Rupert, seemed to justify the confidence of the king. But, unfortunately, this force was divided in the moment of danger. It having been reported, that the duke of Beaufort had entered the channel with a French fleet of forty sail, prince Rupert was detached with twenty sail to oppose him. Meanwhile, the Dutch fleet, to the number of ninety sail, commanded by De Ruyter and Tromp, had put to sea; and Albemarle, notwithstanding his inferiority, rashly sought an engagement.(5) But his valour atoned for his temerity. The battle that ensued was one of the most memorable in the annals of mankind; whether we consider its duration, or the desperate courage with which it was fought.

(1) King James's Memoirs.

(2) These orders were given by one Bronker, a gentleman of the duke's bedchamber, while his master was asleep, and without his authority, if we believe the royal memorialist; and his behaviour during the action leaves us no room to suppose he could be afraid of a beaten and flying enemy. But it is nevertheless well known, that the same man may be a hero at noon, and a coward at inidnight. In a word, it is highly improbable that Bronker should dare to give such orders of himself; and although we know nothing positively to the contrary, we are informed by Burnet, that the duke seemed very much struck, when, understanding that he was likely to come up with the enemy, he was told by Pen, his captain, that he must "prepare for better work in the next engagement," as the Dutch always gather courage from despair. (Hist. of his Own Times, vol. i. book ii. This information Burnet had from the earl of Mon · tagne, who was then a volunteer on board the duke's ship.

(3) Let. d'Estrades.

Four days did the combat rage, without any appearance of valour slackening on either side. The Dutch had the advantage in the action of the first day; yet Albemarle, in engaging De Ruyter, had shown himself worthy of his former renown. Two Dutch admirals were slain, and three English ships taken. One Dutch ship was burned. Darkness parted the combatants. Next morning the battle was renewed with redoubled fierceness; and the Dutch were ready to give way, when they were reinforced with sixteen capital ships. The English now found that the most heroic valour cannot counterbalance the superiority of numbers, against an enemy not defective either in courage or conduct. Albemarle, however, would yield to nothing. but the interposition of night; and, although he had lost no ships in this second action, he found his force so much weakened, that he resolved to take advantage of the darkness and retire. But the vigilance of the enemy, and the shattered condition of his fleet, prevented him from fully executing his design. Before morning, however, he was able to make some way; and it was four in the afternoon before De Ruyter could come up with him. His disabled ships were ordered to make all the sail possible, and keep ahead, while he himself closed the rear with sixteen of the most entire, and presented an undaunted countenance to the Hollanders. Determined to perish sooner than to strike, he prepared to renew the action. But as he was sensible the probability of success was against him, he declared to the earl of Ossory, son of the duke of Ormond, who was then on board with him, his intention to blow up his ship rather than fall into the hands of the enemy: and that gallant youth applauded the desperate resolution. But fortune rescued both from such a violent death, at the same time that it saved the English navy. A fleet being descried before the action was renewed, suspense for a time restrained the rage of the combatants. One party concluded it to be the duke of Beaufort, the other prince Rupert, and both rent the sky with their shouts. At length, to the unspeakable joy of the English, it was discovered to be the prince. Night prevented an immediate renewal of the action, but next morning the battle raged with more intenseness than ever. Through the whole fourth day the contest remained doubtful; and towards evening, both fleets, as if weary of carnage, retired under a thick fog to their respective harbours.(1)

But the English admirals were men of too high valour to be satisfied with less than victory. While they sent the disabled ships to different docks to be refitted, they remained on board their own.. The whole fleet was soon ready to put to sea, and a new engagement was eagerly sought. Nor was it long denied them. Ruyter and Tromp, with the Dutch fleet, consisting of about eighty sail, had posted themselves at the mouth of the Thames, in hopes of being joined by a French squadron, and of riding triumphant in the channel. There they were descried by the English fleet under prince Rupert and Albemarle. The force on both sides was nearly equal. The Dutch bore towards the coast of Holland, but were closely pursued. At length they formed themselves in order of battle, and a terrible conflict ensued. Sir Thomas Allen, who commanded the English white squadron, attacked the Dutch van with irresistible fury, and killed the three admirals who commanded it. Tromp engaged and defeated sir Jeremy Smith, admiral of the blue; but unfortunately for his countrymen, by pursuing too eagerly, he was utterly separated from the Dutch centre, where his assistance was much wanted. Meanwhile, De Ruyter, who occupied that dangerous station, maintained with equal conduct and courage the combat against the centre of the English fleet, commanded by Rupert and Albemarle. Overpowered by numbers, his high spirit was at last obliged to submit to a retreat, which he conducted with the greatest ability; yet could he not help exclaiming, in the agony of his heart, " My God! what a wretch am I, to be compelled to submit to this disgrace!-Among so many thousand bullets, is there not one to put an end to my miserable life?" Tromp, too, after all his success

(1) Basnage. Clarendon. Heath.

was obliged to yield to the combined efforts of the English red and blue squadrons.(1)

Though the loss sustained by the Dutch in this engagement was not very considerable, it occasioned great consternation among the provinces. The defeat of their fleet filled them with the most melancholy apprehensions. Some of these were soon realized. The English, now absolute masters of the sea, rode in triumph along the coast, and insulted the Hollanders in their harbours. A squadron, under sir Robert Holmes, entered the road of Vlie, and burned two men of war and a hundred and forty rich merchantmen, together with the large village of Brandaris; the whole damage being computed at several millions sterling.(2)

The situation of De Wit was now truly critical. The Dutch merchants, uniting themselves with the Orange faction, violently exclaimed against an administration, which, as they pretended, had brought disgrace and ruin on their country. But the firm and intrepid mind of De Wit supported him under all his difficulties and distresses. Having quieted the provinces of Holland and Zealand, he gave himself little trouble about the murmurs of the rest, as they contributed but little towards the public expense. The fleet of the republic was refitted in an incredibly short time, and again sent to sea under De Ruyter; and the king of France, though pleased to see England and Holland weakening each other's naval force, hastened the sailing of the duke of Beaufort, lest a second defeat should oblige his friend De Wit to abandon his dangerous station. (3) Such a defeat would certainly have happened to one, if not to both fleets, had not a violent storm obliged prince Rupert to retire into St. Helen's. While he remained there, repairing the damages he had sustained, De Ruyter, who had taken shelter in the road of Boulogne, returned home with his fleet in a sickly condition. The duke of Beaufort, who came too late to form a junction with the Dutch admiral, passed both up and down the channel without being observed by the English fleet; and Lewis XIV., anxious for the safety of his infant navy, which he had reared with much care and industry, despatched orders to Beaufort to make the best of his way to Brest.(4)

The same storm, which, by sea, prevented prince Rupert from annoying the French and Dutch fleets, promoted a dreadful calamity on land. A fire broke out, at one in the morning, in a baker's shop near London-bridge, and had acquired great force before it was observed. The neighbouring houses were chiefly composed of wood; the weather had long been remarkably dry; the streets were narrow, and the wind blew violently from the east: so that the flames spread rapidly from house to house, and from street to street, till the whole city was in a blaze. Terror and consternation seized on the distracted inhabitants, who considered the conflagration, so fast following the plague, as another visitation from Heaven, on account of the crimes of the court, or as a conspiracy of the papists, in conjunction with France, for the extirpation of all true religion. Suspicions even extended to the royal family.(5) Three nights and three days did the flames rage with increasing fury: on the fourth day, the wind falling, the fire ceased in a manner as wonderful as its progress. Of twenty-six wards, into which the city was divided, fifteen were burned down; four hundred streets and lanes, and thirteen thousand houses were destroyed. (6) But this calamity, though severely felt at the time, has eventually contributed to the health, safety, and future conveniency of the inhabitants of London, by the judicious method observed in constructing the new buildings;(7) and, what is truly remarkable, it does not appear that, during the whole conflagration, one life was lost either by fire or otherwise. Though the most judicious historians leave us no room to suppose that either the Catholics or the court had any concern in the fire of London, the

(1) Basnage. Clarendon. Heath. (3) Basnage. Le Clerc.

(5) Burnet, book ii.

(2) Clarendon. Heath.

(4) Clarendon's Life. Contin. of Baker.

(6) King James's Mem. Clarendon's Life. Burnet, ubi sup (7) The streets were not only made wider, and more regular than formerly, but the houses were formed of less combustible materials, the use of lath and plaster being prohibited.

very suspicion of such a conspiracy is a proof of the jealousy entertained of the measures of government. This jealousy was chiefly occasioned by the severities exercised against the presbyterians and other non-conformists, who still composed the majority of the people of England; and by the secret favour shown to the Catholics, who, though proscribed by many laws, seldom felt the rigour of any.

The non-conformists in Scotland were, if possible, still more harshly treated. In consequence of the introduction of episcopacy, a mode of worship extremely obnoxious to the great body of the Scottish nation, three hundred and fifty parish churches had been at once declared vacant. New ministers were sought for all over the kingdom, and the churches filled with men of the most abandoned characters. No candidate was so ignorant or vicious as to be rejected. The people, who were extremely devoted to their former teachers (men remarkable for the austerity of their manners and their fervour in preaching), could not conceal their indignation against these intruders, whose debaucheries filled them with horror. They followed the ejected clergymen to the woods and mountains, where multitudes assembled to listen to their pious discourses; and while this pleasure was allowed them, they discovered no symptoms of sedition. But when the Scottish parliament, which was wholly under the influence of the court, framed a law against conventicles, similar to that severe act passed in England, the people took the alarm;-and the cruelties and oppressions exercised in enforcing this law, at last roused them to rebellion.(1)

The inhabitants of the western counties, where religious zeal has always been more ardent than in any other part of Scotland, rose in arms, to the number of two thousand, and renewed the covenant. They conducted themselves, however, in a harmless and inoffensive manner, committing no kind of violence, nor extorting any thing by force; and they published a manifesto, in which they professed their loyalty and submission to the king, and only desired the re-establishment of presbytery and their former ministers. As most of the gentlemen of their party in the west had been confined on suspicion of an insurrection, they marched towards Edinburgh, in hopes of being joined by some men of rank; but finding themselves deceived, many dispersed, and the rest were marching back to their own country, when they were attacked by the king's forces, and routed at Pentland Hills. A considerable number of prisoners were taken, and treated with great severity: ten were hanged on one gibbet in Edinburgh, and thirty-five before their own doors, in different parts of the country.(2)

All these men might have saved their lives, if they would either have renounced the covenant or discovered any of their associates; but, though mostly persons of mean condition, they adhered inviolably to their faith and friendship. Maccail, one of their teachers, supposed to have been deep in the secrets of his party, was put to the torture, in order to extort a confession, but without effect. He bore his sufferings with great constancy; and, expiring under them, seemed to depart in a transport of joy. "Farewell, sun, moon, and stars," said he;-"farewell, kindred and friends; farewell, weak and frail body; farewell, world and time: welcome, eternity; welcome, angels and saints; welcome, Saviour of the world; and welcome, God the Judge of all!" (3) These words he uttered with a voice and manner that made a great impression upon all that heard him, and contributed not a little to inflame the zeal of his partisans. Conventicles continued to be attended in defiance of all the rigours of government, though these were extended to a degree of severity that was disgraceful to humanity.

The state of Ireland was no less deplorable than that of Scotland; but the miseries of the Irish proceeded from other causes. Those it must now be our business to trace.

(1) Not only such as frequented conventicles were punished to the utmost rigour of the law, but when it was found that the head of any family did not regularly go to church, soldiers were quartered upon him, till he paid a due attendance. Burnet, book ii.

(2) Burnet, vol. i. book ii.

(3) Id. ibid.