CHAPTER XII.

CHARLES II.

THE SECOND DUTCH WAR.

Pretension to sovereignty of sea maintained--Efforts to revive the fisheries--Legislation--Bill against foreigners fishing on British coasts--Act of Scottish Parliament--Council of the Royal Fishery of Great Britain and Ireland appointed--The scheme receives little public support--Slovenly management of the Society’s affairs--Negotiations with Dutch regarding the sovereignty of the sea, the flag, and the fishery--Attitude of De Witt--His negotiations with France--Treaty concluded with Louis XIV. guaranteeing mutual protection to fishermen--Downing and De Witt--Treaty of London--Article on flag--Ignorance at Admiralty as to practice in striking--Second Dutch war--Causes of--De Ruyter in the Thames--Licenses for fishing offered to Dutch and refused--Grant of fishing rights to Bruges--Effect of the war on the fisheries--Dispute between Dutch and French as to salute--Peace conference at Breda--Claim to fishery withdrawn by Charles--Treaty article on flag--The term British Seas restricted to the Channel--Ambiguities regarding the practice of striking--De Witt’s proposals to Temple for a “Regulation”--The Dutch ambassadors discuss the matter with Charles--Their declaration about striking to a frigate or ketch--Practice of striking described--Denmark also proposes a “Regulation”--De Witt’s intrigues at Paris regarding the salute disclosed to Charles--Arrangement between France and England as to striking--Admiralty give close attention to the rules--Foreign disputes about the salute--General order by the States of Holland 441