The wealth of the Dutch, who, to tell the truth, there are only a handful of folk crammed into a corner of the earth, where there are only water and fields,

is an example and proof of the

advantages of trade, which cannot be denied. Although that nation gets from its land only butter

and cheese, it supplies nearly all of the nations of Europe with the greater part of their

necessities. Cardinal Richelieu.

Hello and welcome to When Diplomacy Fails, Episode 26.2, The First Anglo-Dutch War, Part 1.

After a long break, I'm super excited to present this new season to you guys. If you need a recap of

sorts as to where we are, who I am and what this podcast is all about, please see the previous

episodes, the introduction

and the prologue. If you wish to simply jump right in here and don't care too much

either way, then that's okay too. In the first episode of our four-parter, we look at the

background between England and the Netherlands. How they got here, what made them tick, how they

made everyone else tick, who they ticked off,

why they ticked each other off, the usual. I hope you enjoy this story that is told over the

next half hour or so, and that you remember to jump ahead to parts two, three and four when you're

finished, because I listen to my fans and know that sometimes you need a break from even the

greatest of voices. Thanks for listening.

Now let's hear the history.

The year is, well, roughly post-Westphalia, so about 1648-ish,

and the fallout from what came before is only just beginning.

Music Son to Son

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