hip we will do that which shall show how we honour his memory
by avenging his death on the Dutch."

Even the King did his best for the fleet now, as he was afraid to meet
Parliament without a British victory. After immense exertions Monk and
Rupert met de Ruyter and van Tromp, with almost equal forces, on the
25th of July, at the mouth of the Thames, and closed in so fiercely
that there was hardly any manoeuvring on either side. Locked together
in a life-or-death struggle the two fleets fought all day long. Next
morning the British again closed in, and again the desperate fight
began. But several Dutch captains flinched this time; and so de
Ruyter, hoping the next shot would kill him, retired defeated at last.

The following year (1667) the Dutch came back and sank a British fleet
at Chatham; for Charles and his vile favourites were doing for the
British Navy what de Ruyter's flinching captains had been doing for the
Dutch.

The Peace of Breda ended this second Dutch war in disgrace. But the
Treaty of Dover, in 1670, brought on the third Dutch war with even
greater shame; for Charles now sold himself to Louis XIV, who thus
bought the Royal Navy for an attack on the Dutch, by which he and
Charles were to benefit at the expense of all the rest. The French and
British fleets, worked by the hidden hands of their two kings, grew
suspicious of each other and failed to win a victory. The Dutch fought
with the courage of despair and came through with the honours of war.
But, worn out by their efforts, and unable to defend themselves by both
land and sea, they soon lost their position as one of the Great Powers,
and have never won it back.

THE MOAT

It may be said now to England, _Martha, Martha_, thou art busy about
many things, but one thing is necessary. To the Question, What shall
we do to be saved in this World? there is no other Answer but this,
Look to your Moat.

The first Article of an _Englishman's_ Political Creed must be, That he
believeth in the Sea. . . . We are in an Island, confined to it by God
Almighty, not as a Penalty but a Grace, and one of the greatest that
can be given to Mankind. Happy Confinement, that hath made us Free,
Rich, and Quiet.

_George Savile, Marquis of Halifax_, 1633-95.

PART III

THE FRENCH WAR

CHAPTER XIII

THE FIRST WAR AGAINST LOUIS XIV

(1689-1697)

In Chapter VI we saw how French and English once fought a Hundred Years
War to decide the French