On the 20th of April, Oliver Cromwell dissolved the parliament by force, and assumed the supreme power. Blake's feelings and prepossessions were in favour of a commonwealth. He had lent his aid in giving vigour and respectability to that which had been lately established in England, and would, no doubt, feel a lively indignation at the violent and unexpected change which had taken place. But Blake loved his country better than any thing else. At this moment he saw her exposed to the attacks of powerful enemies. He was sensible, that any at tempts to rekindle a civil war, or to set the naval and military forces at variance, would have endan gered her independence. And, therefore, to pre serve her strength unbroken, and her councils undi vided, so far as his personal influence. extended, he continued his efforts against the common foe, saying, to those under his command, " It is not for us to mind state affairs ; but to keep foreigners from fool ing us." Such conduct made him a favourite with all parties, because it sheaved that he was a true and steady patriot. The town of Bridgewater returned him as their representative to the new parliament ; and even Cromwell himself, to whom his republican sentiments, and unbending spirit, were perfectly well known, regarded him with affection, and treat ed him with confidence. He acted thus, because he was convinced, that Blake was influenced by views which looked farther than the advancement of any political faction, and would make greater exertions, from a pare regard to the welfare and glory of Eng land, than others would do from all the motives of interest and ambition.
On the 2d of June, the English fleet, under Monk and Dean, attacked that of the Dutch under Van Tromp. Each consisted of about•100 ships of war.. The action commenced at eleven in the forenoon, and continued with great warmth through the re maining part of the day. It had not lasted, how ever, many hours, when the enemy began to give way and fall into confusion. The arrival of Blake during the night, with 18 sail, decided their fate. For, next day, after Tromp had attempted, in vain, to avoid a renewal of the contest, a second engage ment took place, in which, after a long and furious struggle, the Dutch were completely defeated, with immense loss both in ships and men. This, together with some other serious disasters which befel their trade and their navy, hastened on the negociations between Cromwell and the States, and led to the peace which was concluded on the 4th of April 165•.
After the conclusion of the Dutch war, Cromwell ' ordered his navy to be repaired • and sent Blake with a considerable fleet into the Mediterranean to support the honour of the English flag, and to take vengeance on those powers by whom it had been ,in •sulted. This important commission he executed with his wonted spirit and success. The terror of his name commanded respect almost every where ; and, when submission did not follow, he exacted it •by force of arm*, Several facts are recorded, which show how much he was feared. While he continued
in the Road of Czliz, where he 'arrived in the be ginning of December, the Spaniards' behaved to him with the greatest , reverence and civility. A Dutch admiral, who happened to be there, would not venture to hoist his flag till Blake's departure. One of his tenders happening to be separated in a storm, was stopped by a French squadron ; but the admiral, as soon as he learned to whom the tender belonged, brought the captain on board his own ship, drank Blake's health before him under a dis charge of five guns, and then dismissed him. The Algerines, too, were so much afrai41 of him, that they stopped the Sallee rovers, and obliged them to deliver up the English prisonerg in their possession, whom they immediately sent to Blake to conciliate his favour.
From Cadiz, Blake sailed to Malaga ; and, while in that port, an incident occurred, which served to place his peculiar temper and character in a striking point of view. Some of the sailors, who happened to be ashore, met the host as it was carried along the street, and not only refused to pay it any re spect, but, with their characteristic thoughtlessness and humour, fell a laughing at the superstition. Upon this, the people, instigated by their priest, attacked the sailors, and beat them severely. They complained to the admiral, who instantly became very indignant, and sent a message to the viceroy, to demand the offending priest. The viceroy an swered, that he had no authority over the priests. Blake then sent a second message, declaring, that it did not lie with him to determine who should send the priest ; but that, if he was not sent, he would most certainly burn the.town about their cars. The inhabitants hearing this threit, compelled their vice roy to send the priest, .which, when he came before the admiral, excused himself, on account of the be haviour of the seamen. Blake told him, that if he had complained of the injury, they should have been punished ; for he did not allow his men to insult the established religion of any place ' • but that he did wrong in stirring up a mob of Spaniards to beat them, and " that he would have him, and the whole world know, that none but an Englishman should chastise an Englishman." We have mentioned, that the Algcrines skewed some marks of submission to the admiral. They had sinned, however, too deeply against England to be forgiven on account of such partial oblations. Blake, therefore, appeared before Algiers on the 10th of March, and sent an officer ashore to demand satisfaction for the piracies which he had committed against English ships, and the release of all the Englishmen whom they held in captivity. The Dev complied, as far as was possible, with the terms prescribed ; 'promised the redemption of the prison ers, who were now private property, on the most easy terms ; and offered to make a treaty with him, engaging to commit no hostilities against the Eng lish in future.