Editing First Anglo-Dutch War (section)

===English delegation to The Hague===
As early as 1643, [[Oliver St John]] had urged fellow Protestants in the Netherlands to sign the [[Solemn League and Covenant]] that the Scots had already signed, but had been rebuffed.<ref name="Groenveld545">Groenveld (1997), p. 545</ref> After the execution of Charles I in 1649, parliament sent an envoy to the Hague to discuss an alliance with the United Provinces, but he was murdered shortly after his arrival in reprisal for the king's death, after which the proposal was left in abeyance until more favourable times.<ref name="Godwin353-4,373">Godwin (1827), pp. 353–354, 373</ref> The sudden death on 6 November 1650 of [[William II of Orange|William II]], the Stadholder of the United Provinces, whose popularity had declined since his election in 1647 in the face of growing discontent from the States Party in the United Provinces, changed matters. The States party was the political faction identified most closely with the idea of rule solely by the States General, and was especially powerful in the large commercially oriented province of Holland. To obtain support against William II, it had sought the assistance of Oliver Cromwell. After William II's death, the States Party was in a much stronger position politically, and no longer valued or needed Cromwell's support against the stadholderate.<ref name="Coward126">Coward (2002), p. 126</ref>

[[File:Toegeschreven aan Bartholomeus van Bassen - Interieur van de Grote Zaal op het Binnenhof te Den Haag, tijdens de Grote Vergadering van de Staten-Generaal in 1651 - 26 - Rijksmuseum.jpg|thumb|left|The Great Assembly of the States General, in the Great Hall of the [[Binnenhof]] (painting by [[Dirck van Delen]], 1651, formerly attributed to [[Bartholomeus van Bassen]])]]

In January 1651, the [[English Council of State]], aware that the Netherlands States General was about to recognise the Commonwealth as the legitimate English government, which it did on 28 January, prepared an embassy to the republic headed by Oliver St John, with two envoys extraordinary. When it arrived in [[The Hague]] on 7 March 1651, the English delegation made it clear that their aim was to "enter into a more strict and intimate alliance and union' with the republic" to be effected by "a Confederation of the two Commonwealths".<ref name="Groenveld555-6">Groenveld (1997), pp. 555–556</ref> and based on proposal put in 1648 by a parliamentary envoy that the Dutch had declined to consider.<ref name="Groenveld553-4,556">Groenveld (1997), pp. 553–554, 556</ref> Any Dutch expectation that recognising the Commonwealth would end dissent between the two countries<ref name="Israel714"/> was disabused and, based on the earlier proposal, the States General drew up a draft of 36 articles, the first eleven of which were the subject of intensive discussion. By June the Dutch believed that agreement had been reached on those points, and the English delegation announced their imminent departure, leaving on 2 July.<ref name="Groenveld556">Groenveld (1997), p. 556</ref>

During their three-month stay, other events had convinced the English delegation of Dutch animosity. The Hague was the residence of the young widow of William II, Charles I's daughter [[Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange|Mary Henrietta Stuart]], the [[Princess Royal]]. Her presence attracted exiled English noblemen not fighting with her brother [[Charles II of England|Charles]] to The Hague, which had for many years been an [[Orangism (Netherlands)|Orangist]] stronghold. The delegation appointed by the Commonwealth, could only leave their lodgings under armed escort, for fear of being assaulted by Royalists or large Orangist mobs in their pay. When the English delegates left in the last week of June, they reported that the Dutch were untrustworthy and that the United Provinces were under the control of the Orangist party and thus a threat to the security of the Commonwealth. Although the [[States of Holland and West Friesland]] were unwilling, if not unable, to suppress the activities of English Royalists, Orangists that deplored the execution of Charles I, and certain strict Calvinist ministers opposing Cromwell's religious innovations, it would have been more logical for him to ally with the ruling republican regents to overcome the pro-Stuart Orangists than go to war, were economic issues not more pressing.<ref name="Israel1118">Israel (1997), p. 1118</ref>

Following the departure of St John, the States General sent a delegation to London to continue discussions. However, after the [[Battle of Worcester]] in September 1651, the radical element in the English parliament became stronger and the group including Cromwell that genuinely favoured an alliance with the Netherlands was outnumbered by those wanting either to cripple Dutch trade without going to war or to provoke a war with the Dutch republic for political reasons.<ref name="Groenveld556"/> The Dutch considered that the economic provisions of the 36 articles they had drafted could form the basis of a trade agreement without compromising the independence of the United Provinces or their becoming involved in a war with Spain,<ref name="Israel1117-8">Israel (1997), pp. 1117–1118</ref> but it soon became apparent that the English negotiators were most concerned to ensure Dutch action against English Royalists and restrictions on the Dutch carrying trade between third countries. The armed confrontation between Tromp and Blake off Dover took place before these issues were settled, and the English immediately halted negotiations and refused to reopen them when the Dutch offered concessions, preferring war.<ref name="Groenveld556"/>