11. Blake, like Nelson, was not permitted to return home alive to receive the thanks and homage of his admiring countrymen. The fleet, headed by his battered flagship, the _George_, had passed the Eddystone and was seen approaching Plymouth harbour. The Hoe was crowded with thousands waiting to welcome their hero home. But at that moment, all unknown to them, Blake lay dying in his cabin. Just as the _George_ dropped her anchor, the hero drew his last breath (1657). His corpse was carried in state to Westminster Abbey and there buried. Never has England had a more devoted and unselfish servant, nor the English sailor a kinder and nobler captain. 12. The warships of England now rode triumphant on the seas. But their triumph did not long remain unchallenged. Throughout a large part of Charles II.'s reign, the English and the Dutch strove constantly for the mastery. Having to defend their homes against the French, the Dutch, at last, felt compelled to retire from the struggle with England for the sovereignty of the seas. In 1674 they finally made peace with England ceding the island of St. Helena--of some value as a place of call to ships sailing to and from the East Indies--and admitting England's claim to a salute from all foreign ships passing through the "narrow seas" around her coasts. CHAPTER III. Expansion by Conquest (1688-1763). (1) WHAT WE OWE TO WILLIAM OF ORANGE. 1. We pass now to a period in our history in which our struggle for empire is chiefly with the French. That struggle began almost as soon as the Prince of Orange became William III. of England. Though a Dutchman, he is entitled to a place among the great builders of the British Empire. To him we are doubly indebted, for he defended our liberties at home against James II. of England, and our interests abroad against Louis XIV. of France. His chief pleasure in accepting the crown of England, arose from the hope that it would enable him to unite the forces of England and Holland in curbing the power of France. 2. It had been the one great object of William's life to thwart the great enemy of his native country, Louis XIV. Though often defeated, he was never conquered. In the darkest times he had never given way to despair, and after each defeat had set to work to mend his broken fortunes. And now he had England at his back, William believed that he could meet his old enemy on equal terms, and he rejoiced at the prospect. Few men have had to contend with so many difficulties, and none have grappled with them more courageously.