fight," says Burnet, "a council of war was called to concert the method
of action when they should come up with the enemy. In that council,
Penn, who commanded under the duke, happened to say that they must
prepare for better work the next engagement. He knew well the courage
of the Dutch was never so high as when they were desperate. The Earl of
Montague, who was then a volunteer, and one of the duke's corps, told
him it was very visible that remark made an impression upon him; and all
the duke's domestics said, `He had got near enough--why should he
venture a second time.' The duchess had also given a strict charge to
all the duke's servants to do all they could to hinder him to engage too
far. When matters were settled they went to sleep, and the duke ordered
a call to be given him when they should get up with the Dutch fleet. It
is not known what passed between the duke and Brouncker, who was of his
bed-chamber, and then in waiting, but he came to Penn as from the duke
and said, `The duke orders the sail to be slackened.' Penn was struck
with the order, but did not go about to argue the matter with the duke
himself as he ought to have done, but obeyed it. When the duke had
slept, he upon his waking went out upon the quarter-deck, and seemed
amazed to see the sails slackened, and that thereby all hopes of
overtaking the Dutch was lost." It was not the only occasion on which
James the Second showed the white feather.

Of the unfortunate Dutch officers who escaped, three were publicly shot
at the Helder, four were ordered to have their swords broken over their
heads by the common hangman, and the master of the vice-admiral to stand
upon a scaffold with a halter about his neck under the gallows, while
the others were executed, and he was afterwards sent into perpetual
banishment. Two more were degraded and rendered incapable of serving
the States more.

Before long the Dutch had their revenge. Charles being easily persuaded
to lay up his ships and pocket the money voted for their maintenance,
the Dutch, prompted by the French, who promised their assistance,
rapidly fitted out a fleet under Admiral Van Ghendt. To deceive the
English, he sailed for the Firth of Forth, which he entered, and after
firing away to little purpose for some time, took his departure, and
joined De Ruyter, who with seventy sail of ships appeared in the mouth
of the Thames on the 7th of June, 1667. A squadron was immediately
despatc