Nobody gave him the least intimation of it.

It was long after that he heard of it, by a kind of accident; and he intended to have punished Brounker by martial law; but just about that time, the house of commons took up the question, and impeached him, which made it impossible for the duke to punish him otherwise than by dismissing him his service.

Brounker, before the house, never pretended that he had received any orders from the duke.
This disaster threw the Dutch into consternation, and determined De Wit, who was the soul of their councils, to exert his military capacity, in order to support the declining courage of his countrymen.

He went on board the fleet, which he took under his command; and he soon remedied all those disorders which had been occasioned by the late misfortune.
The genius of this man was of the most extensive nature.

He quickly became as much master of naval affairs, as if he had from his infancy been educated in them; and he even made improvements in some parts of pilotage and sailing, beyond what men expert in those arts had ever been able to attain.
The misfortunes of the Dutch determined their allies to act for their assistance and support.