66 XIV. 1665. good fleet should be set out once to beat the CHAP. Dutch, the prizes which would every day be "taken would plentifully do all the rest." "But," says Lord Clarendon, "after the supply given by "the Parliament, there was no more danger of "want of money; and many discourses there "were that the prize-money might be better dis"posed in rebuilding the King's houses, and many "other good uses which would occur; and the King forbore to speak any more of appointing "receivers and treasurers for that purpose;" although the Lord Treasurer was prepared to recommend a list of trustworthy and experienced men.* opposes the ment of Ashley. The motive of the King's forbearance soon Clarendon appeared; and it was a profligate wish to appro- appointpriate all the proceeds to his own use. He sent a grant to be passed by the Lord Chancellor under the great seal, making Lord Ashley treasurer of prize-money, with a provision that he "should "account for all monies so received to the King "himself, and to no other person whatsoever: and 66 pay and issue out all these monies which he "should receive in such a manner as his Majesty "should appoint by warrant under his sign-manual, "and by no other warrant; and that he should be "free and exempt from accounting into the Ex"chequer." The object of this arrangement was not disguised; "nor was it difficult," says Clarendon, in language which fluctuates between apo *Life of Clarendon, ii. 337. + Ibid. ii. 338. XIV. 1665. CHAP. logy and irony, "to persuade the King (who thought himself more rich in having one thousand pounds in his closet that nobody knew of "than in fifty thousand pounds in his Exchequer) "how many conveniences he would find in having "so much money at his own immediate disposal, "without the formality of privy seals and other "men's warrants, and the indecency and mischief "which would attend a formal account of all his generous donations and expense, which should "be known only to himself.” * 66 Clarendon remonstrated, arguing that the proposed arrangement was unprecedented, that it would cause the King to be defrauded, — and that it was an offensive encroachment upon the office of the Lord Treasurer. These were, perhaps, the only arguments which he could effectively employ. He could scarcely venture to charge the King with the deliberate intention of profligate wastefulness; and the non-existence, at that period, of any recognised control over the appropriation of supplies deprived him of an argument which succeeding ministers could use. His principal argument was one in which he expected the support of the Lord Treasurer. But Southampton, though honest, was of a facile temper, oppressed by illness, weary of business, and disinclined to oppose strenuously even such measures as he most condemned. Ashley, moreover, was the husband of his niece, and was the person who, according *Life of Clarendon, ii. 341. to Burnet, "was in the greatest credit with him."* Clarendon was thus deprived of aid from a quarter whence it was most valuable, and most to be expected. Instead of concurring in remonstrance, Southampton, he says, "sat unconcerned." "And "so, within a short time, the King sent a positive "order to the Chancellor to seal the commission, "which he could no longer refuse." Happier had it been for Clarendon had he then felt that he not only could, but must, refuse to assent to a measure which he had so much reason to condemn.t CHAP. XIV. 1665. off South The Duke of York's fleet sailed in April; Sea-fight cruised for a time upon the Dutch coast; and, not wold Bay. finding an opposing armament, captured a few merchantmen, and then returned to the Gunfleet, to refit. On the 30th of May the fleet sailed again, and on the 1st of June reached Southwold Bay, on the coast of Suffolk, when the Dutch fleet, consisting of 113 ships of war, 11 fire ships, and 7 yachts, the whole under the command of Opdam, was visible to windward. That day and the following each fleet reconnoitred, and prepared for action; and early in the morning of the 3d of June the fight began. After many hours of hot encounter, upon Opdam's ship being blown up, the Dutch fled, and were pursued towards their own coast. The victors lost in killed and wounded about 800 men, among whom were Vice-Admirals Lawson and Sampson, and the Earls of Marlborough, Portland, and Falmouth. The Dutch, * Burnet, i. 163. XIV. 1665. It CHAP. according to Downing's statement, lost not less than fourteen ships; and admitted that there had been 400 men killed in those ships which escaped.* was a glorious triumph for the English navy; and much more complete might the success have been if the pursuit had been steadily maintained. Downing informed Clarendon that it was said by the Dutch, "that Tromp, and those ships that fled "with him, lay three hours without the Texel, for "want of water to get in, so that had the English pursued their victory close, they must have run "their ships on ground or quitted them, and then they should not have been able to have made "another fleet, God knows when."† The cause of this delay is remarkable. During the night, while the Duke slept, Brouncker, his groom of the bed-chamber, pretending orders from the Duke, ordered the lieutenant to shorten sail, by which means (the Duke of York's being the leading ship) he retarded the progress of the whole fleet. That Brouncker should have thus acted of his own accord, through fear for himself or for the safety of his royal master, is, primâ facie, more probable than that the Duke of York, who professed a wish to prosecute the war with vigour, and had shown himself, on other occasions, not deficient in personal courage, should have issued such an order. But it is remarkable that (according to the statements in the Life of James, * Downing to Clarendon, June 9. 1665. In the Life of James, the Dutch are stated to have lost 20 ships, and about 10,000 men, killed and prisoners. (Life of James I., 418.) Downing to Clarendon, June 9. 1665. 66 XIV. 1665. compiled from his own papers) until July, when CHAP. the fleet was again ready for sail, under the command of Lord Sandwich," the Duke had not "heard one word of his ship having shortened "sail!" Still more remarkable is it, that it was not till the meeting of the Parliament, in the autumn, “that the Duke first heard what Brouncker "had done, in counterfeiting his orders at sea; but most remarkable that, for nearly two years after this grave offence had come to the knowledge of the Duke, and "raised in him no small indignation," Brouncker, who seems to have been the pandar to his pleasures†, remained, unpunished, in his service; and was at length dismissed on another account; and thus, for this most grave offence, received no punishment from the Duke at all. § No inquiry appears to have been made respecting the conduct of the Duke of York but it was opportunely discovered that the command of a fleet in time of war was a situation of peril; - that the Duke of York was presumptive heir to the throne; - and that a life so valuable ought not to be endangered. He was therefore * Life of James I. 421, 422. Pepys, iii. 266. 412. Ibid. iii. 335. The Parliament took up the question after Brouncker had been dismissed from the Duke's service, and expelled him from the House of Commons. It was the circumstance of the Parliament having taken cognisance of the offence which, according to the Life of James, "hin"dered the Duke from having him try'd by a court martial" more than two years after it had come to his knowledge! It is also singularly stated that, "by length of time the prosecution cool'd so, that Brounc"ker was only turn'd out of the House, nor could the Duke do any "thing more at that time than to turn him out of his service," it being neither at that time, nor on that account, that Brouncker was dismissed. |