squadron appointed to protect the Dutch fishing-vessels, exacted from the busses the duty of every tenth herring, and sent them home with a prohibition to fish again without a license from the English government.  In the mean while Van Tromp sailed from the Texel with seventy men-of-war.  It was expected in Holland that he would sweep the English navy from the face of the ocean.  His first attempt was to surprise Ayscue, who was saved by a calm followed by a change of wind.  He then sailed to the north in search of Blake.  But

[Footnote 1:  The fishery employed in various ways one hundred thousand persons.—­Le Clerc, 321.]

[Footnote 2:  From a list of hired merchantmen converted into men-of-war, it appears that a ship of nine hundred tons burthen made a man-of-war of sixty guns; one of seven hundred tons, a man-of-war of forty-six; four hundred, of thirty-four; two hundred, of twenty; one hundred, of ten; sixty, of eight; and that about five or six men were allowed for each gun.—­Journals, 1651, May 29.]

[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1652.  July 19.]

his fleet was dispersed by a storm; five of his frigates fell into the hands of the English; and on his return he was received with murmurs and reproaches by the populace.  Indignant at a treatment which he had not deserved, he justified his conduct before the States, and then laid down his commission.[1]

De Ruyter, a name almost equally illustrious on the ocean, was appointed his successor.  That officer sailed to the mouth of the Channel, took under his charge a fleet of merchantmen, and on his return was opposed by Ayscue with nearly an equal force.  The English. commander burst through the enemy, and was followed by nine sail; the rest of the fleet took no share in the action, and the convoy escaped.  The blame rested not with Ayscue, but with his inferior officers; but the council took the opportunity to lay him aside, not that they doubted his courage or abilities, but because he was suspected of a secret leaning to the royal cause.  To console him for his disgrace, he received a present of three hundred pounds, with a grant of land of the same annual rent in Ireland.[2]

De Witte now joined De Ruyter,[a] and took the command.  Blake accepted the challenge of battle, and night alone separated the combatants.  The next morning the Dutch fled, and were pursued as far as the Goree.  Their ships were in general of smaller dimensions, and drew less water than those of their adversaries, who dared not follow among the numerous sand-banks with which the coast is studded.[3]

Blake, supposing that naval operations would be suspended during the winter, had detached several

[Footnote 1:  Whitelock, 538, 539, 540, 541.  Heath, 322.  Le Clerc, i. 321.]

[Footnote 2:  Heath, 323.  Le Clerc, i. 322.]

[Footnote 3:  Ibid. 326.  Ludlow, i. 367.  Whitelock, 545.  Le Clerc, i. 324.]

[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1652.  Sept. 28.]