Here is
the story of it.
In the old days, 250 years ago, Britain and Holland were both powerful
nations at sea and rivals in commerce, but as we had command of the
British Channel we made all foreign ships salute our men-of-war when
passing them.
One day, May 19th, 1652, a Dutch fleet of forty-five ships; under
their great admiral Van Tromp, came sailing up the Channel, and passed
a British Fleet of twenty-three ships under Admiral Blake. Seeing how
strong he was, the Dutch admiral declined to salute us. So our
flagship fired a shot across his bows, as a signal to remind him of
his duty; but Van Tromp promptly replied with a broadside into the
stern of Admiral Blake's ship.
"That's very rude of him to break my windows," remarked Blake, and
promptly ordered his small Fleet to attack the Dutch, although it was
twice as strong.
The battle began at four o'clock in the afternoon, and went on hammer
and tongs till after dark. The firing then lulled, and the British
Fleet, having been badly mauled, spent the whole night repairing
damages.
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