CHARLES II.

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stead. A ground of quarrel was fought by meansof a yacht, dispatched for lady Temple. Thecaptain failed through the Dutch fleet, whichlay on their own coasts ; and he had orders tomake them strike , to fir'e on them , and to per-severe till they should return his fire. The Dutchadmiral, Van Ghent, surprised at this bravado,came on board the yacht, and expressed hiswillingness to pay respect to the British flag,according to former practice: But that a fleet,on their own coasts, should strike to a singlevessel, and that not a ship of war, was, he said,such an innovation, that he durst not, withoutexpress orders, agree to it. The captain, thinkingit dangerous, as well as absurd, to renew firingin the midst of the Dutch fleet, continued hiscourse; and for that neglect of orders was com-mitted to the Tower.

This incident, however, furnished Downingwith a new article to increase those vain preten-ces , on which it was purposed to ground theintended rupture. The English court delayedseveral months before they complained; lest, ifthey had demanded satisfaction more early, theDutch might have had time to grant it. Evenwhen Downing delivered his memorial, he wasbound by his instructions not to accept of anysatisfaction after a certain number of days; a veryimperious manner of negociating, and impractic-able in Holland, where the forms of the republicrender delays absolutely unavoidable. An answer,however, though refused by Downing, was sent

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1671 .