War was again declared against the Dutch on February 22nd, 1665, and on June 3rd the Dutch fleet under Admirals Evertzen and Opdam was engaged and defeated off Lowestoft by the English fleet under Prince Rupert, the Duke of York, and Admirals Lawson and Penn. Opdam was killed when his ship was blown up, and two other Dutch admirals were killed. Twenty ships were sunk or taken by the British ere the Dutch made off, and through carelessness were permitted to escape. In the engagement the capable Vice-Admiral Lawson was killed, also Vice-Admiral Sansome, likewise the Earls of Marlborough, Portland, and Falmouth, and Lord Muskerry. To commemorate the victory, medals were issued in gold and silver. One bore on the obverse the bust of the King with his titles, and on the reverse the Island of Great Britain and the legend QUATUOR MARIA VINDICO. A smaller medal has on the obverse a triumphal chariot drawn by sea-horses, with the King seated therein, and the legend ET PONTUS SERVIET. These medals were not apparently issued as decorations; but the fine oval medal by Thomas Rawlins was probably destined for that purpose; it was struck in copper and 1·6 in. by 1·5 in. in size. It was also struck in gold and in silver. It bears on the obverse the truncated bust of Charles II in armour, looking to the left, and around the effigy is the inscription CAROLVS · II · D : G : M : BR : FR : ET · H : REX., and on the reverse a warship with a flag on the mainmast bearing the King's initials C R. This side bears the legend NOS · PENSES · IMPERIVM. In 1665 Charles II caused to be struck a large circular silver medal 2 in. in diameter with the motto PRO TALIBVS AVSIS (For such enterprises) in the exergue of the reverse, whereon is depicted a battle at sea with a wreck in the foreground and Charles II habited as a Roman general looking on at the engagement. The medal by Rœttier is a fine example of his workmanship, and a few very fine specimens are still extant. This medal, illustrated facing page 272, was probably intended to be commemorative of the victories of either the first or second Dutch wars; but as it is undated it may have been issued to commemorate either or both. It is 2 in. in diameter. Another medal by Rœttier was struck during the reign of Charles II to commemorate the service of James Duke of York; but this, again, is commemorative rather than decorative. [Illustration: CHARLES II SILVER NAVAL MEDAL.] Several battles were fought ere in 1667 peace was declared with the Dutch. It was not, however, of long duration, for in March 1672 war again broke out, and several battles were fought before peace was finally signed on February 9th, 1674.