But the misfortunes which the Dutch met with in battle, were small in comparison of those which their trade sustained from the English.

Their whole commerce by the Channel was cut off: even that to the Baltic was much infested by English privateers.
Their fisheries were totally suspended.

A great number of their ships, above sixteen hundred, had fallen into the hands of the enemy.

And all this distress they suffered, not for any national interests or necessity, but from vain points of honor and personal resentments, of which it was difficult to give a satisfactory account to the public.
They resolved therefore to gratify the pride of the parliament, and to make some advances towards peace.

They met not, however, with a favorable reception; and it was not without pleasure that they learned the dissolution of that haughty assembly by the violence of Cromwell; an even from which they expected a more prosperous turn to their affairs.
The zealous republicans in the parliament had not been the chief or first promoters of the war; but, when it was once entered upon, they endeavored to draw from it every possible advantage.