eat. The Spanish
Netherlands still belonged to her; she held Naples, Sicily, and
Sardinia; Gibraltar had not yet fallen into English hands; her vast
possessions in America--with the exception of Jamaica, conquered by
England a few years before--were still untouched. The condition of her
sea power, both for peace and war, has been already alluded to. Many
years before, Richelieu had contracted a temporary alliance with
Spain, by virtue of which she placed forty ships at his disposal; but
the bad condition of the vessels, for the most part ill armed and ill
commanded, compelled their withdrawal. The navy of Spain was then in
full decay, and its weakness did not escape the piercing eye of the
cardinal. An encounter which took place between the Spanish and Dutch
fleets in 1639 shows most plainly the state of degradation into which
this once proud navy had fallen.

"Her navy at this time," says the narrative quoted, "met one of
those shocks, a succession of which during this war degraded her
from her high station of mistress of the seas in both
hemispheres, to a contemptible rank among maritime powers. The
king was fitting out a powerful fleet to carry the war to the
coasts of Sweden, and for its equipment had commanded a
reinforcement of men and provisions to be sent from Dunkirk. A
fleet accordingly set sail, but were attacked by Von Tromp, some
captured, the remainder forced to retire within the harbor
again. Soon after, Tromp seized three English [neutral] ships
carrying 1070 Spanish soldiers from Cadiz to Dunkirk; he took
the troops out, but let the ships go free. Leaving seventeen
vessels to blockade Dunkirk, Tromp with the remaining twelve
advanced to meet the enemy's fleet on its arrival. It was soon
seen entering the Straits of Dover to the number of sixty-seven
sail, and having two thousand troops. Being joined by De Witt
with four more ships, Tromp with his small force made a resolute
attack upon the enemy. The fight lasted till four P.M., when the
Spanish admiral took refuge in the Downs. Tromp determined to
engage if they should come out; but Oquendo with his powerful
fleet, many of which carried from sixty to a hundred guns,
suffered himself to be blockaded; and the English admiral told
Tromp he was ordered to join the Spaniards if hostilities began.
Tromp sent home for instructions, and the action of England only