56

Charles's relations with the

Thuringia.

CHAPTER XC.

THE ASCENDENCY OF WENTWORTH.

CHARLES'S misfortunes never came alone. The same want of perception of the conditions of action which had baffled him in Scotland baffled him in his dealing with the Con tinental Powers. The year had been a year of gloom Continental for him in every direction. Early in the spring he Powers. had learned from Roe that there was no likelihood February. that any such treaty as that which he had sent him Baner in to negotiate would ever be obtained. Before long the Swedish General Baner, careless of the fortunes of the Elector Palatine, was pushing forward in triumph through Thuringia, if a commander can be said to triumph who marches forward unchecked through scenes of havoc and desolation. "It is no more war, but spoil," wrote the English ambassador, “without difference of friend or foe, and therein also I give it a civil name, . . . Men hunt men as beasts for prey in the woods and on the ways." Charles indeed was hopeful, but his hopefulness was not for Germany or for humanity. The one thing he cared for, amidst these horrors, was to regain the Palatinate for his nephew. He assured his sister that when he had gained that victory in Scotland to which he was at that time looking forward with confidence, his power to assist her son would be as free as his will. Disappointed of aid from Sweden, Charles turned his eyes Bernhard of wistfully to Bernhard of Weimar. Like Charles Weimar. Lewis, Bernhard was a dispossessed prince. Like Charles Lewis, he had good cause to be jealous of the French Government. He knew that, if he had won victories by Riche

1 See Vol. VIII. page 376.

1639

BERNHARD'S DEATH.

57

lieu's aid, Richelieu coveted for his master the cities and lands of Alsace which had been the spoils of victory. Charles Lewis, therefore, invited Bernhard to make common cause with him against their common enemies. Bernhard naturally

April. replied by asking what assistance the Elector could give. Could he, for instance, supply a force of 4,000 men, and a round sum of money with which to support them? Such assistance it was beyond the power of Charles Lewis to give, and he soon began to suspect that Bernhard was more anxious to win territory for himself than for others.1

June 28. Death of Bernhard.

The young man's suspicions were never put to the test. Bernhard crossed the Rhine at the head of a wellappointed army, with the fairest expectations of success. In a few days he was stricken down by mortal sickness, and before June was over he was dead.2

With Bernhard's death passed away the last chance of checking the advance of French authority towards the Rhine. Charles Everything concurred to inspire Charles with aniagain turns mosity against France. As he was firmly convinced

towards

Spain.

that Richelieu was at the bottom of the Scottish troubles, he once more sought the alliance of Spain. It may indeed be doubted whether Charles was likely to receive more help from Spain than he had received before, but it is certain that Spain had more need of Charles than it had had before. Now that the Rhine valley was closed against the passage of Spanish troops, by Bernhard's victories of the preceding year, the freedom of the navigation of the Channel was more important than ever. Reinforcements and supplies must come in that way from Spain to Flanders, or they would hardly come at all. Early in the summer it was known in England that English ships had been chartered to bring troops from Spain to Dunkirk, and that Tromp, the new Dutch admiral, was cruising off Portland to intercept them. As the vessels came up they were boarded by the Dutchmen. The English sailors were treated with all 1 Elizabeth to Roe, Feb. 25, S. P. Holland. Roe to Coke, Jan. 29, Feb. 6. The Elector Palatine to Roe, April 16, June 7, S. P. Germany. 2 June 28,

June. Spanish soldiers in English ships.

July 8

Tromp.

possible courtesy, but the Spaniards were carried off. To Northumberland and Pennington this appeared to be July. Seized by no more than a fair exercise of the rights of war. Charles was of a different opinion. He directed Pennington to maintain his sovereignty in the Channel. small band of Spanish soldiers which had taken refuge in the western ports was allowed to march on foot to the Downs,. whence it was safely conveyed to a Flemish harbour.1

proposed by

Against these proceedings Joachimi, the Dutch ambassador, protested. After some hesitation Charles proposed a comAugust. promise. He could not, he said, admit the right of Compromise search claimed by the Dutch, but he would prohibit Charles. his subjects from convoying soldiers if the StatesGeneral would prohibit their subjects from selling munitions of war to their own enemies in the Mediterranean. Charles possibly imagined that the Dutch habit of bargaining even with an enemy was too ingrained to be got rid of, and intended his compromisemerely as a polite form of refusal. The progress of events was. too rapid for any agreement on the subject."

The Spanish fleet at Corunna.

All through the summer, a great Spanish fleet had been gathering at Corunna. Thirty huge galleons and thirty-six transports, eight of the latter being the property of English owners, were preparing to convoy to Flanders 10,000 soldiers and a large quantity of money. Magnificent as these preparations were, the Spanish statesmen had no longer the confidence in their naval power which had inspired their predecessors in the days when the Armada was

1 Hopton to Windebank, May 8, S. P. Spain. Povey to Pennington, June 3. Carteret to Pennington, June 3. Smith to Pennington, June 8. Pennington to Windebank, July 13. Northumberland to Windebank, July 15. Windebank to Pennington, July 16, S. P. Dom. ccccxxiii. 17, 18, 56, ccccxxv. 61, 78, 81. Cardenas to Salamanca, June 14, June 28,

July

5, 19 15, 29

24, July 8,

Cardenas to the Cardinal Infant, July 1, Brussels MSS. Sec..

Esp. cclxxix. fol. 243, 301, 309, 325, 292.

16

2 Northumberland to Pennington, Aug. 11, S. P. Dom. ccccxxvii. 40. Joachimi to the States-General, Aug. The Prince of Orange to the: States-General,

Aug. 28
Sept. 7'

26

Add. MSS. 17,677, Q, fol. 75, 79.

1639

OQUENDO'S FLEET.

59

launched against Elizabeth. They knew that their ships were ill-found and ill-provided, and that their seamen were no match for the sailors of the Dutch Republic. They humbled themselves to apply to Charles for a convoy.1

Charles offers to

When the application was made, Charles was in the heat of his controversy with the Dutch about the right of search. He ordered Pennington to protect the Spaniards from all attack.2

protect it.

Aug. 26. Sept. 1. The Spaniards off Plymouth.

Thus encouraged, the great fleet sailed from Corunna on August 26th. On September 1 the eight English transports, with 2,000 men on board, put into Plymouth. The inhabitants of the western port were startled by the news that a fleet of huge galleons would soon be in the offing. Their thoughts recurred to the day on which Drake and Hawkins finished their game of bowls on the Hoe; and when they saw the Spanish hulls rising above the horizon, they believed for the moment that the unwelcome

1 Rushworth (iii. 973) has printed a paper which he supposed to contain an account of this fleet, but an inspection of the number of the ships and the names of the commanders shows that it can have nothing whatever to do with it. The mention of the Archduke settles its date as belonging to the lifetime of the Archduke Albert. I strongly suspect that it refers to the expedition planned against Algiers in 1618. See Vol. III. page 286.

2 "Muy contento estoy del buen suceso que ha tenuto la diligencia que per orden de su Maga hize con este Rey, para que su Armada franquease el Canal con fin de que la gente que havia de venir de España en los vajeles de Dunquerque pueda con mayor seguridad hazer su viaje, a que oy me respondio el Sñr Windevanch que su Maga de la Gran Bretaña havio dado orden a su Vizalmirante salir con los vajeles de su Armada que han venido de Escocia, y que limpiase el Canal sin consentir en el desorden ni hostilidad alguna, y que ya ha salido a executarlo.” Cardenas to Salamanca, Aug. Brussels MSS. Sec. Esp. cclxxx. fol. 16. Windebank tried afterwards to shuffle out of this engagement. "It is very true," he wrote, "that Don Alonso gave some intimation . . . that some vessels were preparing in Spain for transportation of forces into Flanders, and desired His Majesty would not take apprehension of it, but that they might have a friendly reception ... but he spoke not of so great a number nor such a strength." Windebank to Hopton, Sept. 29, Clarendon S. P. 3 Hopton to Cottington, Sept. 2, S. P. Spain.

ii. 71.

2

12'

Sept. 6.

visitors would soon be in the Sound. If the Spanish admiral, Oquendo, had any such intention, it was speedily abandoned. On the 6th his course was waylaid by the Dutch viceadmiral with seventeen ships. All the next day a running fight was kept up as he made his way to the eastward. On the evening of the 7th the two fleets were off Dungeness, the smaller Dutch squadron keeping well to windward. Tromp, who was blockading Dunkirk, heard the sound of the firing, and on the 8th he Sept. 8. joined his vice-admiral with fifteen sail.1 That day The battle

Sept. 7. Running fight in the Channel.

in the Straits.

there was a fierce battle between Dover and Calais. One Dutch ship blew up. Of the Spanish galleons three were sunk and one taken.2 Before nightfall the Spaniards had fired away all their powder, and Oquendo did not venture to pursue his course to Flanders. With the shattered remnants of his fleet he put into the Downs for shelter, with Tromp following hard behind him.3

Sept. 9. The Span

The Spanish admiral met with a rough greeting from Pennington. The English vice-admiral bade him lower the standard of Spain in the presence of his Majesty's She flag. He had no choice but to obey. Pennington Downs. then insisted that Tromp, who was pressing on to follow up his victory, should abstain from hostilities and keep to the southern part of the anchorage, whilst the northern part was assigned to the Spaniards. Three days after his Sept. 12. arrival, Oquendo took advantage of the distance which separated him from the enemy, to send off to Dunkirk, 1 Account of the action, Nalson, i. 258. Aitzema, Saken van Staet en Oorlogh, ii. 609. Oquendo to Cardenas, Sept. 2, Brussels MSS. Sec. Esp. cclxxx. fol. 86.

22

2 According to other accounts, two were taken and one sunk.

Manwood to Suffolk, Sept. 1, S. P. Dom. ccccxxviii. 52. Cave to Roe, Sept. 23, S. P. Germany. Rossingham's News-Letter, Sept. 9, Add. MSS. 11,045, fol. 53. Cardenas to Windebank, Sept. Cardenas to

ΙΟ

20

the Cardinal Infant, Oct., Brussels MSS. Sec. Esp. cclxxx. fol. 106, 14' 129. Salvetti's News-Letters, Sept. 13. Windebank to Hopton, Sept. 29, Clar. S. P. ii. 71.

23