transmitted it to the king, who approved of it, and 1665. promised to send a fleet to put it in execution. The ministers of Denmark were appointed to concert the matter with Talbot. But nothing was put in writing; for the king of Denmark was ashamed to treat of such an affair, otherwise than by word of mouth. Before the end of July, news came, that De Ruyter, with the East India fleet, was on the coast of Norway. Soon after he came into Berghen. The riches then in that port were reckoned at many millions.

The earl of Sandwich was then in those seas. So Talbot sent a vessel express to him with the news. But that vessel fell into the hands of the Dutch fleet, and was sent to Holland. The king of Denmark writ to the viceroy of Norway, and to the governor of Berghen, ordering them to use all fair means 223 to keep the Dutch still in their harbour, promising to send particular instructions in a few days to them how to proceed. Talbot sent letters with these, to be delivered secretly to the commanders of the English frigates, to let them know that they might boldly assault the Dutch in port; for the Danes would make no resistance, pretending a fear that the English might destroy their town: but that an account was to be kept of their prizes, that the king of Denmark might have a just half of all: they were not to be surprised, if the Danes seemed at first to talk high: that was to be done for shew: but they would grow calmer, when they came to engage. The earl of Sandwich sent his secretary to Talbot, to know the particulars of the agreement with the king of Denmark. But the vessel that brought him was ordered, upon landing the secre

1665. tary, to come back to the fleet. So that it was impossible to send by that vessel what was desired. And no other ships could be got to carry back the secretary. And thus the earl of Sandwich went to attack the Dutch fleet without staying for an answer from Talbot, or knowing what orders the governor of Berghen had yet received: for though the orders were sent, yet it was so great a way, ten or twelve days' journey, that they could not reach the place, but after the English fleet had made the attack. The viceroy of Norway, who resided at Christiana, had his orders sooner, and sent out two galleys to communicate the agreement to the earl of Sandwich; but missed him, for he was then before Berghen. The governor of Berghen, not having yet the orders that the former express promised him, sent a gentleman to the English fleet, desiring they would make no attack for two or three days; for by that time he expected his orders. Clifford was sent to the governor, who insisted that till he had orders he must defend the port, but that he expected them in a very little time. Upon Clifford's going back to the fleet, a council of war was called, in which the officers, animated with the hope of a rich booty, resolved without further delay to attack the port, either doubting the sincerity of the Danish court, or unwilling to give them so large a share of that, on which they reckoned as already their prize. Upon this Tiddiman began the attack, which ended fatally. Divers frigates were disabled, and many officers and seamen were killed. The squadron was thus ruined, and Tiddiman was ready to sink: so he was forced to slip his cables, and retire to the fleet, which lay without the rocks. This action was

on the third of August: and on the fourth the go- 1665. vernor received his orders. So he sent for Clifford, and shewed him his orders. But, as the English fleet had by their precipitation forced him to do 224 what he had done, so he could not, upon what had happened the day before, execute those orders, till he sent an account of what had passed to the court of Denmark, and had the king's second orders upon it. And, if the whole English fleet would not stay in those seas so long, he desired they would leave six frigates before the harbour; and he would engage, the Dutch should not in the mean while go out to sea. But the English were sullen upon their disappointment, and sailed away. The king of Denmark was unspeakably troubled at the loss of the greatest treasure he was ever like to have in his hands. This was a design well laid, that would have been as fatal to the Dutch, as ignominious to the king of Denmark, and was, by the impatient ravenousness of the English, lost, without possibility of recovering it. And indeed there was not one good step made after this in the whole progress of the war.

ment at

England was at this time in a dismal state. The The parlia plague continued for the most part of the summer Oxford. in and about London, and began to spread over the country. The earl of Clarendon moved the king to go to Salisbury. But the plague broke out there. So the court went to Oxford, where another session of parliament was held. And though the conduct at sea was severely reflected on, yet all that was necessary for carrying on the war another year was given. The house of commons kept up the ill humour they were in against the nonconformists very

1665. high. A great many of the ministers of London were driven away by the plague; though some few staid. Many churches being shut up, when the inhabitants were in a more than ordinary disposition to profit by good sermons, some of the non-conformists upon that went into the empty pulpits, and preached; and, it was given out, with very good success and in many other places they began to preach openly, not without reflecting on the sins of the court, and on the ill usage that they themselves had met with. This was represented very odiously at Oxford. So a severe bill was brought in, requiring all the silenced ministers to take an oath, declaring it was not lawful on any pretence whatsoever to take arms against the king, or any commissioned by him; and that they would not at any time endeavour an alteration in the government of the church or state. Such as refused this were not to come within five miles of any city, or parliament borough, or of the church where they had served. This was much opposed in both houses, but more faintly in the house of commons. The earl of Southampton spoke vehemently against it in the house of 225 lords. He said, he could take no such oath himself: for how firm soever he had always been to the church, yet, as things were managed, he did not know but he himself might see cause to endeavour an alteration. Doctor Earl, bishop of Salisbury, died at that time. But, before his death, he declared himself much against this act. He was the man of all the clergy for whom the king had the greatest esteem. He had been his subtutor, and had followed him in all his exile with so clear a character, that the king could never see or hear of any one

thing amiss in him. So he, who had a secret plea- 1665. sure in finding out any thing that lessened a man esteemed eminent for piety, yet had a value for him beyond all the men of his order. Sheldon and Ward were the bishops that acted and argued most for this act, which came to be called the five mile act. All that were the secret favourers of popery promoted it their constant maxim being, to bring all the sectaries into so desperate a state, that they should be at mercy, and forced to desire a toleration on such terms, as the king should think fit to grant it on. Clifford began to make a great figure in the house of commons. He was the son of a clergyman, born to a small fortune: but was a man of great vivacity. He was reconciled to the church of Rome before the restoration. The lord Clarendon had many spies among the priests: and the news of this was brought him among other things. So, when Clifford began first to appear in the house, he got one to recommend him to the lord Clarendon's favour. The lord Clarendon looked into the advice that was brought him: and by comparing things together, he perceived that he must be that man: and upon that he excused himself the best he could. So Clifford struck in with his enemies; and tied himself particularly to Bennet, made lord, and afterwards earl of Arlington. While the act was before the house of commons, Vaughan, afterwards made chief justice of the common pleas, moved that the word legally might be added to the word commissioned by the king: but Finch, then attorney-general, said that was needless; since, unless the commission was legal, it was no commission, and, to make it legal, it must be issued out for a lawful oc