CHAPTER VII.

CHARLES I.--_continued._ THE NAVY.

Need of a strong navy--Insecurity of seas from pirates--Violations of King’s Chambers and ports by Dutch and Dunkirkers--Proclamation concerning same and claiming sovereignty of sea--Charles’s private policy to recover the Palatinate--Negotiations for alliance with Spain against the Dutch--Pretexts for creating a fleet--The ship-money writs--Feeling in Holland--Coke’s despatch on the dominion of England in the seas--The first ship-money fleet, under the Earl of Lindsey--His instructions--All hostilities in narrow seas to be prevented--Previous instructions to Pennington compared--The king’s private instructions--Their object--Lindsey’s queries--Proceedings of the fleet--Rumours in London--Friction with the admiral--Fails to meet the French fleet--Richelieu’s strategy, and proposals as to salute--Licenses for Dutch herring-busses--Lindsey quits the fleet--Discontent at his failure--The question of the salute becomes very prominent--Doubts and queries as to the custom in enforcing it--Practice on foreign coasts--Between ships and forts--Arrogance of English captains--Usual compliance of the Dutch--British merchantmen the worst offenders 246