slain, and near
fifteen hundred taken prisoners. The English, though many of their ships
were extremely shattered, had but one sunk. Their slain were not much
inferior in number to those of the enemy.

All these successes of the English were chiefly owing to the superior
size of their vessels; an advantage which all the skill and bravery
of the Dutch admirals could not compensate. By means of ship money, an
imposition which had been so much complained of, and in some respects
with reason, the late king had put the navy into a situation which it
had never attained in any former reign; and he ventured to build ships
of a size which was then unusual. But the misfortunes which the Dutch
met with in battle, were small in comparison of those which their trade
sustained from the English. Their whole commerce by the Channel was cut
off: even that to the Baltic was much infested by English privateers.
Their fisheries were totally suspended. A great number of their ships,
above sixteen hundred, had fallen into the hands of the enemy. And
all this distress they suffered, not for any national interests or
necessity, but from vain points of honor and personal resentments, of
which it was difficult to give a satisfactory account to the public.
They resolved therefore to gratify the pride of the parliament, and
to make some advances towards peace. They met not, however, with a
favorable reception; and it was not without pleasure that they learned
the dissolution of that haughty assembly by the violence of Cromwell; an
even from which they expected a more prosperous turn to their affairs.

The zealous republicans in the parliament had not been the chief or
first promoters of the war; but, when it was once entered upon, they
endeavored to draw from it every possible advantage. On all occasions,
they set up the fleet in opposition to the army, and celebrated the
glory and successes of their naval armaments. They insisted on the
intolerable expense to which the nation was subjected, and urged the
necessity of diminishing it by a reduction of the land forces. They had
ordered some regiments to serve on board the fleet in the quality
of marines. And Cromwell, by the whole train of their proceedings,
evidently saw that they had entertained a jealousy of his power and
ambition, and were resolved to bring him to a subordination under their
authority. Without scruple or delay, he resolved to prevent them.

On such firm foundations was built