michael f vincent on 2 Apr 2003  •  Link

Dunkirk/Dunkerque : picture 1665 A port with a lot of history
http://www.kipar.org/society_jean_bart.html
http://www.kipar.org/jean_bart/dunkerque1.jpg
It was captured at the battle of the Dunes June 1658, it being a nest of PIRATES
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/6236/96569
16th Century : Dunkirk becomes the main Port for the Netherlands. Spanish, Dutch and English all covet the strategic position of Dunkirk and occupy the town at the some period of time, in 1600's,
"look a head" no money charles sells off a capital asset."
In 1662 : Louis XIV buys the town from the English and gives it "Freeport Status". Since then, the commerce expands. Then Jean Bart becomes famous for the French not for the Anglais

kvk on 2 Apr 2003  •  Link

Dunkirk is a coatal fortress in Flanders. Prior to 1658 it was a Spanish possession. In May 1657, Cromwell agreed to help France in her war against Spain through an Anglo-French attack on three of Spain's fortresses in Flanders: Gravelines, Mardyck, and Dunkirk. Gravelines was to be given to Franc, the other two to England.

Dunkirk was besieged in May 1658, and a Spanish relieving force defeated in June. When Dunkirk surrendered to the French, Cardinal Mazarin honored the treaty and turned it over to the English (Louis XIV wanted to keep it).

Cromwell wanted Dunkirk as an English foothold on the continent, and it serves this role in 1660. Dunkirk is, however, a city of Catholics and English troops stationed there have had some difficulties adjusting to being surrounded by Catholics.

Terry F on 19 Oct 2005  •  Link

When "Dunkirk... was sold to the French for 5 m. livres by a treaty signed on 7/17 October [1662], a deputation of London merchants went to Whitehall...to protest that the surrender would make Dunkirk 'the Harbour of all the *Privateers*', and the King therefore asked Louis XIV to issue an edict against the corsairs....But the Privateers, based in Dunkirk and thereabouts, inflicted millions of pounds worth of damage on English shipping during the Anglo-French wars of the following hundred years. In the period 1656-1783 English prize goods totalling almost ?6m. were sold in Dunkirk prize-courts alone...." L&M 1662 iii.220 note 1.

Cumgranissalis on 20 Oct 2005  •  Link

So Lxvi gets his money back.
Brilliant move. Charles gets his spending money and the merchants of the London pay the tab ,['tis better than paying customs duties].

Cumgranissalis on 20 Oct 2005  •  Link

Cost too much??? Donkerke.
Ordered, That the Sum of Twelve hundred Pounds a Week shall be paid to Colonel Edward Harley, Governor of Donkerque, upon Account of the Garison of Donkerque, from the Sixth Day of November last, until the Twenty-fifth Day of December instant; and paid out of the Moiety of the Excise of Ale and Beer; for the Maintenance of the said Garison.
Resolved, That the Customs, Contributions, and other Revenues, arising in Dunkerque, shall also go towards the Maintenance of the said Garison of Donkerke.
Resolved, That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein: And Mr. Herbert is to carry it to the Lords

From: 'House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 10 December 1660', Journal of the House of Commons: volume 8: 1660-1667 (1802), pp. 202-04. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compi…. Date accessed: 20 October 2005.

Cumgranissalis on 20 Oct 2005  •  Link

Fun and games of the Hi seas 1650 :
WHEREAS divers good People of this Commonwealth have of late sustained great Losses and Damages, by having their Ships and Goods unduly seized, pillaged, surprised, and taken, by divers French Ships, and French Men, Subjects to the French King; by which means the Shipping of this Nation hath been, in some measure, impaired, and the English Trade lessened: And albeit all fair Courses have been observed, according to the Forms of Princes and States in Amity, in seeking and demanding Redress and Reparation, yet none could be obtained; but on the contrary, several of the French Ships have since unduly spoiled other English Ships in the former manner; so that, according to the Laws and Customs of Nations, there ought to be Droit de Marque, and Letters of Reprisal are grantable: But, in respect that many of the English, so spoiled, are not able to undergo the Charge of setting forth Ships of their own to make Seizures by such Letters of Marque; and for that, by the Law used amongst Nations, any State may, in such Case, cause Justice to be executed by their own immediate Officers and Ministers, immediately, where they find it requisite:

From: 'House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 11 September 1650', Journal of the House of Commons: volume 6: 1648-1651 (1802), pp. 465-67. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compi…. Date accessed: 20 October 2005.

more on the Importance of Dunqeque and the Levant trade. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compi…

Cumgranissalis on 20 Oct 2005  •  Link

case for dropping Dunkirk. may 1662 by Lord Chancellor [HoL]
"You may with a very good Conscience assure yourselves, and your Friends and Neighbours, that the Charge the Crown is now at, by Sea and Land, for the Peace and Security and Wealth and Honour of the Nation, amounts to no less than Eight Hundred Thousand Pounds a Year, all which did not cost the Crown before these Troubles Fourscore Thousand Pounds the Year; and therefore they will never blame you for any Supply you have given, or Addition you have made to the Revenue of the Crown. And whosoever unskilfully murmurs at the Expence of Dunkirk, and the other new Acquisitions, which ought to be looked upon as Jewels of an immense Magnitude in the Royal Diadem, do not enough remember what we have lost by Dunkirk, and should always do if it were in an Enemy's Hands; nor duly consider the vast Advantages those other Dominions are like, by GOD's Blessing, in a short Time, to bring to the Trade, Navigation, Wealth, and Honour of the King and Kingdom. His Majesty hath enough expressed His Desire to live in a perfect Peace and Amity with all His Neighbours; nor is it an ill Ingredient (Footnote *) towards the Firmness and Stability of that Peace and Amity, which His Royal Ancestors have held and maintained with them, that He hath some Advantages in Case of a War, which They were without.

From: 'House of Lords Journal Volume 11: 19 May 1662', Journal of the House of Lords: volume 11: 1660-1666, pp. 468-77. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compi…. Date accessed: 20 October 2005.

A. Hamilton on 20 Oct 2005  •  Link

The Anglo-French sea commerce wars as seen from the French side:

http://www.musicanet.org/robokopp/french/letrente…

Glyn on 20 Oct 2005  •  Link

The French and Cromwell's army had together captured Dunkirk and other territory from the Spanish four years earlier, in 1658. Dunkirk was handed over to the English, and the French took over the region of Artois. We can see who got the better deal: the English were in Dunkirk for four years only, but the French are still in Artois.

King Charles reached the logical conclusion that Dunkirk was undefendable should the French ever wish to conquer it, so he got the price for it that he could when he sold it to them in 1662.

Pedro on 20 Oct 2005  •  Link

Sale of Dunkirk.

"It was true that financial necessity played some part in Charles' decision; quite apart from the high price paid by France (some £400,000), Dunkirk cost a fortune to maintain. But the drift of the English King's diplomatic desires were clear, even without his anti-Spanish Portuguese marriage, so gratifying to France. Into these dreams , the Franco-Dutch treaty of 1662 came as an unpleasant reminder of the French King's priorities."

(Antonia Fraser, King Charles II)

We can see who got the better deal: Dunkirk occupying a key position between France and the Spanish Netherlands.

Michael Robinson on 18 Jul 2007  •  Link

French Medal commemorating the cession of Dunkirk
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/explore/object.c…

Terry Foreman on 8 Jul 2012  •  Link

Dunkirk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk

Bill on 10 Aug 2015  •  Link

A treaty was signed on the 27th October by which Dunkirk was sold to France for five million livres, two of which were to be paid immediately, and the remaining three by eight bills at dates varying from three months to two years; during which time the King of England was to contribute the aid of a naval force, if necessary, for defence against Spain. Subsequently the remaining three millions were reduced to 2,500,000 to be paid at Paris, and 254,000 in London. It is not known that Clarendon suggested the sale of Dunkirk, but it is certain that he adopted the measure with zeal. There is also no doubt that he got as much as France could be induced to give. —Lister's Life of Clarendon, ii. 173-4.
---Wheatley, 1899.

Bill on 20 Oct 2015  •  Link

The next measure of the King has not had the good fortune to be justifyed by any party; but is considered as one of the greatest mistakes, if not blemishes, of his reign: 'Tis the sale of Dunkirk to the French. The parsimonious maxims of the Parliament, and the liberal, not to say lavish, disposition of the King, were but ill suited to each other; and notwithstanding all the supplies voted him, his treasury was still very empty and very much indebted. He had received the sum of 200,000 crowns from France; but the forces sent over to Portugal, and the fleets, maintained in order to defend that kingdom, had already cost the King that sum, and together with it, above double the money, which he had received for the Queen's dowry. The time fixed for payment of his sister's portion to the duke of Orleans was now approaching. Tangiers, a fortress from which great benefit was expected, was become an additional burthen on the crown; and Rutherford, who now commanded in Dunkirk, had encreased the charge of that garrison to near a hundred thousand pounds a year. These considerations had such influence, not only on the King, but even on Clarendon, that that uncorrupt minister was the most forward to advise the accepting a sum of money in lieu of a place which, he thought, the King, from the narrow state of his revenue, was no longer able to retain. By the treaty with Portugal, it was stipulated, that Dunkirk should never be yielded to the Spaniards: France was therefore the only purchaser that remained. D'Estrades was invited over by a letter from the chancellor himself, in order to conclude the bargain. Nine hundred thousand pounds were demanded: One hundred thousand were offered. The English by degrees lowered their demands: The French raised their offer: And the bargain was struck at 400,000 pounds. The artillery and stores were valued at a fifth of the sum. The importance of this sale was not, at that time, sufficiently known, either abroad or at home.
---The History of England. David Hume, 1759.