This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 Excerpt: ...any notice, as if the paltry English fleet of fifteen were beneath contempt. Blake fired a shot across the Admiral's bow by way of reminder that he meant business, bnt the Dutchman took no more notice than before. The next shot, however, was not across the bows, but right at the ship, killing one of the men on board ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 Excerpt: ...any notice, as if the paltry English fleet of fifteen were beneath contempt. Blake fired a shot across the Admiral's bow by way of reminder that he meant business, bnt the Dutchman took no more notice than before. The next shot, however, was not across the bows, but right at the ship, killing one of the men on board and splitting her mainsail. The sound of guns brought Bourne away from the Downs with his eight ships, and these reinforcing Blake, the fight proceeded so furiously that Van Tromp was glad bo draw off under the cover of the night. Doubtless his vessels were greatly damaged, and he needed time to examine whether he was competent to renew the contest the following day. When morning dawned, after a busy night spent by the Englishmen, whose ships were terribly battered, Blake found that the fleets had drifted three or four leagues apart, Van Tromp being close on to the French coast. The question arose as to the ability of Blake's damaged ships to continue the fight, especially when the flagship was put out of action, her hull and masts having in them no less than seventy shots. The Council of War decided in favour of another fight; but before they had sailed a mile or two in order to meet the Dutchmen once more, they saw them spread all sail and get away. They thus owned themselves beaten, having lost two ships to the English, who on their part had lost none. Many weeks were wasted in negotiations that came to nothing. The Dutch would not agree to the terms proposed by the Commonwealth, so that war, not yet proclaimed, was formally declared, and Blake, with his fleet now in splendid fighting trim, went out to look for the enemy. The Dutch were numerically much stronger than ourselves. A hundred and fifty English ships, it is true, were building, but...
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