DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51519#0029
editor’s INTRODUCTION. XV
that their convoy might be seized with the less difficulty. But the
latter were on their guard, the English were repulsed, and the
expedition ended in nothing but disgrace. Another arbitrary
measure to obtain money, the closing of the Exchequer, ruined
thousands of his subjects, and destroyed entirely the confidence of
the merchants and moneyed men.
“ Now,” says Evelyn, (a zealous royalist,) on the 12th of March,
“was the first blow given by us to the Dutch convoy of the
Smyrna fleete, by Sir Robert Holmes and Lord Ossorie, in which
we received little, save blows and worthy reproach, for attacking
our neighbours ere any war was proclaim’d ; and then pretending
the occasion to be, that some time before, the Merlin yacht
chancing to saile thro’ the whole Dutch fleete, their Admiral did
not strike to that trifling vessel. Surely this was a quarrel
slenderly grounded, and not becoming Christian neighbours. We
are like to thrive accordingly. Lord Ossorie several times deplor’d
to me his being engaged in it• he had more justice and honour
than in the least to approve of it, tho’ he had been over persuaded
to the expedition.* There is no doubt but we should have sur-
priz’d this exceeding rich fleete, had not the avarice and ambition
of Holmes and Sprag separated themselves, and wilfully divided
our fleete, on presumption that either of them was strong enough
to deale with the Dutch convoy without joyning and mutual help ;
but they so warmly plied our divided fleets, that whilst in conflict
the merchants sailed away, and got safe into Holland.
“ A few daies before this, the Treasurer of the Household, Sir
Tho. Clifford, hinted to me as a confident, that his majesty would
* Evelyn has again, on another occasion, recorded the indignation of the
gallant and virtuous Earl of Ossory at this action. “ One thing more let me note,
that he often express’d to me the abhorrence he had of that base and unworthy
action which he was put upon, of engaging the Smyrna fleete in time of peace, in
which tho’ he behav’d himself like a greate captain, yet he told me it was the
onely blot in his life, and troubled him exceedingly. Though he was commanded,
and never examin’d further when he was so, yet he always spoke of it with regret
and detestation.”—Vol. iii. p. 31.
that their convoy might be seized with the less difficulty. But the
latter were on their guard, the English were repulsed, and the
expedition ended in nothing but disgrace. Another arbitrary
measure to obtain money, the closing of the Exchequer, ruined
thousands of his subjects, and destroyed entirely the confidence of
the merchants and moneyed men.
“ Now,” says Evelyn, (a zealous royalist,) on the 12th of March,
“was the first blow given by us to the Dutch convoy of the
Smyrna fleete, by Sir Robert Holmes and Lord Ossorie, in which
we received little, save blows and worthy reproach, for attacking
our neighbours ere any war was proclaim’d ; and then pretending
the occasion to be, that some time before, the Merlin yacht
chancing to saile thro’ the whole Dutch fleete, their Admiral did
not strike to that trifling vessel. Surely this was a quarrel
slenderly grounded, and not becoming Christian neighbours. We
are like to thrive accordingly. Lord Ossorie several times deplor’d
to me his being engaged in it• he had more justice and honour
than in the least to approve of it, tho’ he had been over persuaded
to the expedition.* There is no doubt but we should have sur-
priz’d this exceeding rich fleete, had not the avarice and ambition
of Holmes and Sprag separated themselves, and wilfully divided
our fleete, on presumption that either of them was strong enough
to deale with the Dutch convoy without joyning and mutual help ;
but they so warmly plied our divided fleets, that whilst in conflict
the merchants sailed away, and got safe into Holland.
“ A few daies before this, the Treasurer of the Household, Sir
Tho. Clifford, hinted to me as a confident, that his majesty would
* Evelyn has again, on another occasion, recorded the indignation of the
gallant and virtuous Earl of Ossory at this action. “ One thing more let me note,
that he often express’d to me the abhorrence he had of that base and unworthy
action which he was put upon, of engaging the Smyrna fleete in time of peace, in
which tho’ he behav’d himself like a greate captain, yet he told me it was the
onely blot in his life, and troubled him exceedingly. Though he was commanded,
and never examin’d further when he was so, yet he always spoke of it with regret
and detestation.”—Vol. iii. p. 31.