There was a powerful war party in England, supported by the Duke of York.  It was at his instigation that a strong-handed act took place which aroused intense indignation in Holland.  A company called “The Royal African Company” had been formed in which the duke had a large interest.  A fleet fitted out by this company under the command of Admiral Holmes seized, in February, 1664, a portion of the coast of Guinea on which the Dutch had settlements.  Strong protests meeting with nothing but evasive replies, in all secrecy a squadron was got ready to sail under De Ruyter, nominally to the Mediterranean.  Dilatory negotiations were in the meantime being conducted by Beverweert in London, and by Downing at the Hague in regard to this and other grievances, but without any approach to a settlement.  Downing in fact was surreptitiously doing his best not to reconcile, but to aggravate differences.  Matters were brought to a head by the news that an English fleet had crossed the Atlantic and had taken possession of the Dutch colony of New Netherland (September), and that Holmes had made himself master of Cabo Corso on the West African coast, and was threatening further conquests.  This was too much.  De Ruyter received orders to proceed to Guinea, where he speedily drove out the English intruders and reoccupied the lost settlements.  During the winter both powers prepared for a struggle for maritime supremacy which had become inevitable; and at last war was declared by England (March 4, 1665).

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CHAPTER XVI

THE LAST YEARS OF DE WITT’S ADMINISTRATION, 1665-1672.  THE SECOND ENGLISH WAR.  THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE.  THE FRENCH INVASION

THE declaration of war in March, 1665, found the Dutch navy, thanks to the prescience and personal care of the council-pensionary, far better prepared for a struggle with the superior resources of its English rival than was the case in 1654.  John de Witt, aided by his brother Cornelis, had supplied the lack of an admiral-general by urging the various Admiralty Boards to push on the building of vessels in size, construction and armaments able to contend on equal terms with the English men-of-war.  He had, moreover, with his usual industry taken great pains to study the details of admiralty-administration and naval science; and now, in company with the Commissioners of the States-General, he visited all the ports and dockyards and saw that every available ship was got ready for immediate service, provided with seasoned crews, and with ample stores and equipment.  The English on their side were equally ready for the encounter.  After the death of Cromwell the fleet had been neglected, but during the five years that had passed since the Restoration steps had been taken to bring it to an even greater strength and efficiency than before.  Whatever may have been the faults of the Stewart kings, neglect of the navy could not be laid to their charge.