CHARLES II.

73

the Englifli navy (the duke having gone ashore)dispatched Sir Thomas Tiddiman with a squadronto attack them ; but whether from the king ofDenmark’s delay in sending orders to the governor,or, what is more probable, from his avidity inendeavouring to engross the whole booty, theEnglish admiral, though he behaved with greatbravery , failed of his purpose. The Danish go-vernor fired upon him; and the Dutch, havinghad leisure to fortify themselves, made a gallantresistance.

The king of Denmark, seemingly ashamed ofhis conduct, concluded with Sir Gilbert Talbot,the Englilh envoy, an offensive alliance againstthe states; and at the very fame time, his residentat the Hague, by his orders, concluded an offen-sive alliance against England. To this latter alliancehe adhered , probably from jealousy of the in-creasing naval power of England ; and he seizedand confiscated all the Englifli ships in his har-bours. This was a sensible check to the advan-tages , which Charles had obtained over theDutch. Not only a blow was given to theEnglifli commerce; the king of Denmark’s navalforce was also considerable, and threatened everymoment a conjunction with the Hollanders. Thatprince stipulated to assist his ally with a fleet ofthirty fail; and he received in return a yearlysubsidy of 1,500,000 crowns, of which 300,000were paid by France.

The king endeavoured to counterbalance theseconfederacies by acquiring new friends and allies.

CHAP.

LXIV.

IS<-3.

3d August.

Rupturewith Den-mark.