p the people from relapsing into blood and confusion. The
Independents were too small a party ever to establish a popular
government, or intrust the nation, where they had so little interest,
with the free choice of its representatives. The Presbyterians had
adopted the violent maxims of persecution; incompatible at all times
with the peace of society, much more with the wild zeal of those
numerous sects which prevailed among the people. The royalists were so
much enraged by the injuries which they had suffered, that the other
prevailing parties would never submit to them, who, they knew, were
enabled, merely by the execution of the ancient laws, to take severe
vengeance upon them. Had Cromwell been guilty of no crime but this
temporary usurpation, the plea of necessity and public good, which he
alleged, might be allowed, in every view, a reasonable excuse for his
conduct.

During the variety of ridiculous and distracted scenes which the civil
government exhibited in England, the military force was exerted with
vigor, conduct, and unanimity; and never did the kingdom appear more
formidable to all foreign nations. The English fleet, consisting of a
hundred sail, and commanded by Monk and Dean, and under them by Pen
and Lauson, met near the coast of Flanders with the Dutch fleet equally
numerous, and commanded by Tromp. The two republics were not inflamed by
any national antipathy, and their interests very little interfered: yet
few battles have been disputed with more fierce and obstinate courage,
than were those many naval combats which were fought during this
short but violent war. The desire of remaining sole lords of the ocean
animated these states to an honorable emulation against each other.
After a battle of two days, in the first of which Dean was killed, the
Dutch, inferior in the size of their ships, were obliged, with great
loss, to retire into their harbors. Blake, towards the end of the fight,
joined his countrymen with eighteen sail. The English fleet lay off the
coast of Holland, and totally interrupted the commerce of that republic.

[Illustration: 1-734-blake.jpg ADMIRAL BLAKE]

The ambassadors whom the Dutch had sent over to England, gave them hopes
of peace. But as they could obtain no cessation of hostilities, the
states, unwilling to suffer any longer the loss and dishonor of being
blockaded by the enemy, made the utmost efforts to recover their injured
honor. Never, on any occasion, did the power