Arthur Tedder's 1916 study of the Royal Navy during the seventeenth century describes the Navy's cautious support for the restoration of the monarchy, its position as protector of commerce in the Mediterranean and its role in the Anglo-Dutch wars. It chronicles the constant struggle to staff, feed and equip the Navy and the challenges of plague, poor discipline and frequent skirmishes with the Dutch. It explores in detail the tactics of individual battles in the Anglo-Dutch wars as well as the practical difficulties that often hampered the English war effort. The author served in the RAF in WWI and became a member of the British high command during WWII; his tactical flair informs his analysis of the Royal Navy's progress during a turbulent period. His account also includes fascinating details of wage disputes, embezzlement of funds and the work of the infamous press gangs.
