century before, was now long in decay and scarcely formidable; the
central weakness had spread to all parts of the administration. In
extent of territory, however, she was still great. The Spanish
Netherlands still belonged to her; she held Naples, Sicily, and
Sardinia; Gibraltar had not yet fallen into English hands; her vast
possessions in America--with the exception of Jamaica, conquered by
England a few years before--were still untouched. The condition of
her sea power, both for peace and war, has been already alluded to.
Many years before, Richelieu had contracted a temporary alliance with
Spain, by virtue of which she placed forty ships at his disposal; but
the bad condition of the vessels, for the most part ill armed and ill
commanded, compelled their withdrawal. The navy of Spain was then in
full decay, and its weakness did not escape the piercing eye of the
cardinal. An encounter which took place between the Spanish and Dutch
fleets in 1639 shows most plainly the state of degradation into which
this once proud navy had fallen.

"Her navy at this time," says the narrative quoted, "met one of those
shocks, a succession of which during this war degraded her from her
high station of mistress of the seas in both hemispheres, to a
contemptible rank among maritime powers. The king was fitting out a
powerful fleet to carry the war to the coasts of Sweden, and for its
equipment had commanded a reinforcement of men and provisions to be
sent from Dunkirk, A fleet accordingly set sail, but were attacked by
Von Tromp, some captured, the remainder forced to retire within the
harbor again. Soon after, Tromp seized three English [neutral] ships
carrying 1070 Spanish soldiers from Cadiz to Dunkirk; he took the
troops out, but let the ships go free. Leaving seventeen vessels to
blockade Dunkirk, Tromp with the remaining twelve advanced to meet the
enemy's fleet on its arrival. It was soon seen entering the Straits of