The Holland Society of New York - Yearbook (New York, NY)

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IOI Droysen, the noted German historian, says, in substance : This-Tromp's victory-was the severest dis- aster which the Crown of Spain could undergo. It was, indeed, a death-blow to her sea-power. She could no longer in the Mediterranean maintain a secure connection with her Italian provinces. Al- ready had France drawn the Court of Turin into close alliance. In Catalonia, in Portugal, the most important movements were already undertaken by France. And in England the Opposition lifted its head with fresh courage. The King began to weaken, and he summoned together that Parlia- ment through which he was himself, at length, to lose all. It could not be concealed from any one at the imperial court that the condition of affairs was most perilous, since at no earlier moment of the fearful war had it happened that upon itself alone it had to depend to drive Baner and his Swedes out of Bohemia, --which followed in the succeed- ing spring. Only for a moment did there seem assurance that there was any further hope to tear North Germany from Sweclen's grasp, or for it militarily to maintain itself, since France now- no longer menaced by Spain-would press forward upon the Rhine districts with redoubled forces. It was absolutely necessary to provide from other sources against the deficiency of military supplies and forces which the misfortune of Spain had caused. So far Droysen. Finally, the following paragraph from the Dutch is confirmatory: Arend, Amsterdam, 1868 QD. 3, 5, pp. 181, 2025, says that such were the Dutch rejoicings over Tromp's victory, that they sent

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IO3 i of English menace and English force, towers far above that of the combined English and Holland fleets over the Invincible Armada. In 1588 the blasts of heaven were loosened upon the Spaniards. One of the very medals struck in Holland to cele- brate that event summed up the Whole story. The literal translation is : God breathed in wrath, and they were swept into nothingnessf' C' Ajflcwizf Dem ez' dz1s'sQpaz'z'szmZ ! D ' Tromp's victory was due to his perfect com- bination of the art and science of naval commander- ship and to the intrepidity, instincts, skill, and sailorship of his officers and men 3 to the head and heart of the man at the head, and the discipline and devotedness of each man behind the guns and at the tackling and handling of the sails-the pre- eminent Dutch seamen at the supremest era of the seven' United States of Holland. i i . 5 5435