Series 1 > Journals of Sir John Lauder, Lord Fountainhall, with his observations on public affairs and other memoranda, 1665-1676

236
JOURNAL OF JOHN LAUDER
it was of purpose done to divide his majesties fleet), and theiron
ordering Prince Rupert with his squade away to attend their
uniting ; and in his absence the Dutch taking the advantage,
provocked the Duck of Albemarle (who was a better land
sojer then a sea, and who died in 1669) with sixtein ships to
fight their wholle fleit, who more hardily then wisely encounter¬
ing them, had undoubtedly bein totally routed and defeat had
not Prince Rupert upon notice come up and releived them.
By which conflict it at last appeared that it was possible for
the English to be beat by the Hollander, which was never
beleived before that.
The nixt error they committed was that the following
summer, 1667, the King (for sparing of charges forsooth) was
advysed not to set to sea that year, but to let his fleit lay up
in the harbors, which gave cause to that mighty affront (then
which since England was England it never received the like)
given them at Chattan, and wheir the Scots regiment, brought
over from France by the King’s order, making braver resist¬
ance then all England beside, ware many of them slain, dying
in the bed of honour. As for the Scots proclaiming war
against France, and as for the more naturall way tane by our
King in proclaiming the war then tane by France, I shall
elsewheir speak more at large.