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Chapter II: The Triumph of the Lion
The Birth of Royal Twins sends London into a frenzy of celebration. Bonfires are lit across the city, fireworks are set of by the various corporations, wine is flowing in the streets and the various members of the Nobility, led by the King and Duke of York, head to St. Pauls for a Service of Thanksgiving. The Duchess of Buckingham, appointed Governess to the Children, works to create a duel establishment for the Royal twins, as requested by the King and Queen. The celebrations rival those of the King's restoration six years ago. More then being yet another Royal Birth (the Duke of York already had three surviving children) the birth of the Kings legitimate heirs represent assured stability and hope for the future.
The christening of the Royal twins took place on May 17th, at the Chapel Royal in Whitehall. The entire ceremony was a bit of a new creation, with precedence having to be created for the new heirs. Several ideas were considered, including separate christenings , but it was ultimately decided to hold a joint christening. The Prince was carried in by the Duchess of Orsmonde and the Princess by her half sister-in-law the Duchess of Monmouth. The children's Godparents, King Louis XIV of France, Queen Mother Henrietta Maria and James Duke of York for the Prince and King Alfonso VI of Portugal, Princess Henriette-Anne Duchesse d'Orleans and Prince Rupert of the Palatinate for the Princess, did cause some controversy as so many were Catholic. Though the Queen Mother, York and Prince Rupert were physically present the Kings of France and Portugal and Madame, had to be represented by various members of the Nobility. The Duke of Buckingham and Viscount Cornbury represented Kings Louis and Alfonso, receptively, and the Duchess of Hamilton represented her distant cousin Madame. Humphrey Henchman Bishop of London formally christened the children by dripping water over the children's heads from a great golden basin, naming the children Charles and Katherine-Henriette.
Meanwhile the King, always want of money, is quick to take advantage of the celebratory atmosphere in the Country by requesting Parliament increase his already large income from £ 1.2 million to £1.5 million, to support the King's new and future legitimate heirs. To the surprise of both Charles and his ministers, Parliament actually agrees. Thus the new heirs are already paying off and they aren't even three months old!
The weeks following the Royal birth is summed up best by diarist Samuel Pepys "With all the parties and celebrations throwout this isle of Great Britain it is almost enough to make one forget the War entirely!" Nearly everyone but the King and his Government. While everyone else has been celebrating, the Admiralty and Government have continued Naval preparations. The Duke of York, no longer heir presumptive, is allowed to return to Personal command of the Fleet, once again sharing this position with Prince Rupert. Monck is moved back into the Admiralty, never return to the battlefield again.
By the middle of May rumors have reached London that the French and Dutch fleets are preparing to join forces at Dunkirk. King Louis, having joined the war in late January, was apparently not appeased by being made godfather to Prince Charles. To the English, the joining of the is their two enemies is the ultimate fear, as the combined Fleets would outnumber the Royal Navy. Therefore the goal of the Royal Navy is to intercept the Dutch Fleet before it can join the with the French. Though General Monck had wanted to divide the Fleet, or at least send a squadron to block the Strait of Dover against the French, York overruled him and on May 27th a Fleet of 80 ships left port to intercept the Dutch.
The Four Days battle, the decisive battle of the Second Anglo-Dutch War
On June 1st the English under York and Prince Rupert engaged the Dutch fleet, led by naval hero Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, near Dunkirk. The resulting battle was the largest in both the Second Dutch war and the entire age of Sail. Called the Four Days' Battle after its length, it was a resounding victory for the English. 21 Dutch vessels, including Admiral de Ruyter's flagship the De Zeven Provinciën, were lost, making the Four days' battle an even larger victory than Lowestoft. Even worse than losing nearly a fourth of their ships, Admiral de Ruyter was killed when his flagship was sank, thus leaving the Dutch effectively leaderless.
Under Lieutenant-Admiral Cornelis Trump, the Dutch manage to retreat to the Port of Amsterdam in a state of shock. Their hero and leader is dead and a fourth of their Fleet is sank. Meanwhile, in England, the news of their Fleets victory is greeted enthusiastically. By the King's order bonfires are lit across the country, balls are thrown by the various nobles in honor of the victory, Bells ring across London and a te deum is even sang in the Queen Catherine's private chapel. It says something to the feelings of euporia in London that there are no objections to the Queen's actions.
The Government discussions in The Hague that June are full of worry and distress. The nations premier Naval Commander is dead, the fleet smashed, the people are whispering loudly,spurred on by the Orangists, that this never have happened if William of Orange was Stadtholder. After all, the Prince of Orange is the nephew of the King, so what reason would he have to declare war on a relative? Dangerous talk indeed. To try and deflect the defeat, de Witt orders the Fleet, still under the command of Admiral Trump, to launch an attack on the English. By the time the Fleet is prepared to battle again, its already mid-July.
St. James's Day Battle, the last Dutch Victory of the War
The resulting engagement, fought on July 25th, is known as the St. James's Day battle in England and the Two Day's battle in the Netherlands. The Battle is a Pyrrhic victory for the Dutch. Though they manage to sink 7 English ships, and capture 2 more, the casualties the Dutch suffer are enormous. Over 2,000 sailors are lost in the battle, with 13 ships needed large scale repairs.
Sadly for the Dutch, the English vengeance for this victory is horrendous and devastating for Dutch trade. On the 9th and 10th of August an English squadron under Admiral Robert Holmes conducted a raid near the Dutch town of ter Schelling, capturing nearly 20 merchant ships and sinking 130 more. From a trading point of view it was only slightly damaging, as 150 merchant ships represented but a fraction of the total Dutch Merchant fleet. But from a physiological view, it both horrified the Dutch and strengthened their resolve, as the entire town of ter Schelling was accidentally burned. The initial dismay was replaced by a dogged determination to continue the war and repair the damage done. This accidental destruction of a town and its inhabitants could have been the event that rallied the Dutch people to bring the war to the English, if not for a devastating assault on Amsterdam.
The attacker was not the English but something much worse. An enemy that had no mercy, and attacked all: young and old, rich and poor, powerful and weak. This enemy was the bubonic plague. This was not the first time the city had been visited by this devastating epidemic. In 1663-1664 Amsterdam had lost over 50,000 people to the disease. In fact it is believed that the Great Plague of London had been accidentally imported from the Netherlands. However, this time the plague didn't just decimate the City, it also decimated the Fleet.
No one is certain how the plague reached ships of the Dutch Fleet docked in Amsterdam, but it is believed that it was spread by the dock workers repairing the damages from the St. James's day battle. From there, it rapidly moved throwout the Fleet, with the final death tole at around 7,000 for the Navy and 35,000 for the city.
The only light in this dark time is that the English can't take advantage of the situation, for they are suffering from their own internal crisis. On September 2nd a fire broke out in London, which quickly spread through the city. The firefighting efforts, led by the King and Duke of York, is ultimately successful in containing and stopping the flames by the September 5th, but the damage was already done. Much of the heart of London had been gutted by the fire, including the magnificent St. Paul's Cathedral, just so recently the site of celebrations for the birth of the Royal heirs.
The Great Fire of London
Almost as soon as the flames died out rumors begin to spread that the fire was set deliberately. Many blame the Catholics but soon thousands of broadsheets appear across London (written by Government propagandists), laying the blame at the feet of the Dutch, as revenge for the defeat of their fleet and the accidental burning of ter Schelling. The Government is all too happy to encourage such rumors, as it increases the popularity of the Dutch war. With public opinion aflame, Parliament votes £ 250,000 to the King for the refit and expansion of the Navy. There is even talk of an invasion of the Netherlands itself, though with the outbreak of plague the discussions are tabled for the time being. Though some, such as Prince Rupert, want to try to take advantage of the Plague and attack,the idea is overruled. Many believe it would be in bad taste to attack the Dutch while the Capital is ruined, so for the rest of the year there would be no battles between the Dutch and English fleets.
By December, as the eventful finally year draws to a close, a time of reflection sets in. For the Dutch, 1666 is the Rampjaar, a year of disaster. Their hero dead, their fleet crushed, their trade interrupted, and a major city gripped by the plague. All the dutch, and the Grand Pensionary in particular, can do is pray that the next year is better. For the English, on the other hand, 1666 is considered a good year. In spite of the Great Fire of London, things are good for the English. The plague has disappeared, the King has twin heirs, the Navy is victorious and the Government is more popular than ever. Plans are being drawn up to rebuild London, grander and more magnificent than ever before. For the English, 1667 looks to be bright indeed.
Chapter II: The Triumph of the Lion
Queen Catherine with her son the Prince of Wales
The Birth of Royal Twins sends London into a frenzy of celebration. Bonfires are lit across the city, fireworks are set of by the various corporations, wine is flowing in the streets and the various members of the Nobility, led by the King and Duke of York, head to St. Pauls for a Service of Thanksgiving. The Duchess of Buckingham, appointed Governess to the Children, works to create a duel establishment for the Royal twins, as requested by the King and Queen. The celebrations rival those of the King's restoration six years ago. More then being yet another Royal Birth (the Duke of York already had three surviving children) the birth of the Kings legitimate heirs represent assured stability and hope for the future.
The christening of the Royal twins took place on May 17th, at the Chapel Royal in Whitehall. The entire ceremony was a bit of a new creation, with precedence having to be created for the new heirs. Several ideas were considered, including separate christenings , but it was ultimately decided to hold a joint christening. The Prince was carried in by the Duchess of Orsmonde and the Princess by her half sister-in-law the Duchess of Monmouth. The children's Godparents, King Louis XIV of France, Queen Mother Henrietta Maria and James Duke of York for the Prince and King Alfonso VI of Portugal, Princess Henriette-Anne Duchesse d'Orleans and Prince Rupert of the Palatinate for the Princess, did cause some controversy as so many were Catholic. Though the Queen Mother, York and Prince Rupert were physically present the Kings of France and Portugal and Madame, had to be represented by various members of the Nobility. The Duke of Buckingham and Viscount Cornbury represented Kings Louis and Alfonso, receptively, and the Duchess of Hamilton represented her distant cousin Madame. Humphrey Henchman Bishop of London formally christened the children by dripping water over the children's heads from a great golden basin, naming the children Charles and Katherine-Henriette.
Meanwhile the King, always want of money, is quick to take advantage of the celebratory atmosphere in the Country by requesting Parliament increase his already large income from £ 1.2 million to £1.5 million, to support the King's new and future legitimate heirs. To the surprise of both Charles and his ministers, Parliament actually agrees. Thus the new heirs are already paying off and they aren't even three months old!
The weeks following the Royal birth is summed up best by diarist Samuel Pepys "With all the parties and celebrations throwout this isle of Great Britain it is almost enough to make one forget the War entirely!" Nearly everyone but the King and his Government. While everyone else has been celebrating, the Admiralty and Government have continued Naval preparations. The Duke of York, no longer heir presumptive, is allowed to return to Personal command of the Fleet, once again sharing this position with Prince Rupert. Monck is moved back into the Admiralty, never return to the battlefield again.
By the middle of May rumors have reached London that the French and Dutch fleets are preparing to join forces at Dunkirk. King Louis, having joined the war in late January, was apparently not appeased by being made godfather to Prince Charles. To the English, the joining of the is their two enemies is the ultimate fear, as the combined Fleets would outnumber the Royal Navy. Therefore the goal of the Royal Navy is to intercept the Dutch Fleet before it can join the with the French. Though General Monck had wanted to divide the Fleet, or at least send a squadron to block the Strait of Dover against the French, York overruled him and on May 27th a Fleet of 80 ships left port to intercept the Dutch.
The Four Days battle, the decisive battle of the Second Anglo-Dutch War
On June 1st the English under York and Prince Rupert engaged the Dutch fleet, led by naval hero Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, near Dunkirk. The resulting battle was the largest in both the Second Dutch war and the entire age of Sail. Called the Four Days' Battle after its length, it was a resounding victory for the English. 21 Dutch vessels, including Admiral de Ruyter's flagship the De Zeven Provinciën, were lost, making the Four days' battle an even larger victory than Lowestoft. Even worse than losing nearly a fourth of their ships, Admiral de Ruyter was killed when his flagship was sank, thus leaving the Dutch effectively leaderless.
Under Lieutenant-Admiral Cornelis Trump, the Dutch manage to retreat to the Port of Amsterdam in a state of shock. Their hero and leader is dead and a fourth of their Fleet is sank. Meanwhile, in England, the news of their Fleets victory is greeted enthusiastically. By the King's order bonfires are lit across the country, balls are thrown by the various nobles in honor of the victory, Bells ring across London and a te deum is even sang in the Queen Catherine's private chapel. It says something to the feelings of euporia in London that there are no objections to the Queen's actions.
The Government discussions in The Hague that June are full of worry and distress. The nations premier Naval Commander is dead, the fleet smashed, the people are whispering loudly,spurred on by the Orangists, that this never have happened if William of Orange was Stadtholder. After all, the Prince of Orange is the nephew of the King, so what reason would he have to declare war on a relative? Dangerous talk indeed. To try and deflect the defeat, de Witt orders the Fleet, still under the command of Admiral Trump, to launch an attack on the English. By the time the Fleet is prepared to battle again, its already mid-July.
St. James's Day Battle, the last Dutch Victory of the War
The resulting engagement, fought on July 25th, is known as the St. James's Day battle in England and the Two Day's battle in the Netherlands. The Battle is a Pyrrhic victory for the Dutch. Though they manage to sink 7 English ships, and capture 2 more, the casualties the Dutch suffer are enormous. Over 2,000 sailors are lost in the battle, with 13 ships needed large scale repairs.
Sadly for the Dutch, the English vengeance for this victory is horrendous and devastating for Dutch trade. On the 9th and 10th of August an English squadron under Admiral Robert Holmes conducted a raid near the Dutch town of ter Schelling, capturing nearly 20 merchant ships and sinking 130 more. From a trading point of view it was only slightly damaging, as 150 merchant ships represented but a fraction of the total Dutch Merchant fleet. But from a physiological view, it both horrified the Dutch and strengthened their resolve, as the entire town of ter Schelling was accidentally burned. The initial dismay was replaced by a dogged determination to continue the war and repair the damage done. This accidental destruction of a town and its inhabitants could have been the event that rallied the Dutch people to bring the war to the English, if not for a devastating assault on Amsterdam.
The attacker was not the English but something much worse. An enemy that had no mercy, and attacked all: young and old, rich and poor, powerful and weak. This enemy was the bubonic plague. This was not the first time the city had been visited by this devastating epidemic. In 1663-1664 Amsterdam had lost over 50,000 people to the disease. In fact it is believed that the Great Plague of London had been accidentally imported from the Netherlands. However, this time the plague didn't just decimate the City, it also decimated the Fleet.
No one is certain how the plague reached ships of the Dutch Fleet docked in Amsterdam, but it is believed that it was spread by the dock workers repairing the damages from the St. James's day battle. From there, it rapidly moved throwout the Fleet, with the final death tole at around 7,000 for the Navy and 35,000 for the city.
The only light in this dark time is that the English can't take advantage of the situation, for they are suffering from their own internal crisis. On September 2nd a fire broke out in London, which quickly spread through the city. The firefighting efforts, led by the King and Duke of York, is ultimately successful in containing and stopping the flames by the September 5th, but the damage was already done. Much of the heart of London had been gutted by the fire, including the magnificent St. Paul's Cathedral, just so recently the site of celebrations for the birth of the Royal heirs.
The Great Fire of London
Almost as soon as the flames died out rumors begin to spread that the fire was set deliberately. Many blame the Catholics but soon thousands of broadsheets appear across London (written by Government propagandists), laying the blame at the feet of the Dutch, as revenge for the defeat of their fleet and the accidental burning of ter Schelling. The Government is all too happy to encourage such rumors, as it increases the popularity of the Dutch war. With public opinion aflame, Parliament votes £ 250,000 to the King for the refit and expansion of the Navy. There is even talk of an invasion of the Netherlands itself, though with the outbreak of plague the discussions are tabled for the time being. Though some, such as Prince Rupert, want to try to take advantage of the Plague and attack,the idea is overruled. Many believe it would be in bad taste to attack the Dutch while the Capital is ruined, so for the rest of the year there would be no battles between the Dutch and English fleets.
By December, as the eventful finally year draws to a close, a time of reflection sets in. For the Dutch, 1666 is the Rampjaar, a year of disaster. Their hero dead, their fleet crushed, their trade interrupted, and a major city gripped by the plague. All the dutch, and the Grand Pensionary in particular, can do is pray that the next year is better. For the English, on the other hand, 1666 is considered a good year. In spite of the Great Fire of London, things are good for the English. The plague has disappeared, the King has twin heirs, the Navy is victorious and the Government is more popular than ever. Plans are being drawn up to rebuild London, grander and more magnificent than ever before. For the English, 1667 looks to be bright indeed.
- Emperor Constantine
- Word Count: 1.8k