The British had invaded the Netherlands and burned 130 merchant ships and killed a few old ladies. This was shockingly uncivilized — no one benefits from the bu

The British had invaded the Netherlands and burned 130 merchant ships and killed a few old ladies. This was shockingly uncivilized — no one benefits from the burned goods. During war, one may kill soldiers and burn warships, but to burn goods and kill old women? Horrible! So, the Dutch shamed the British by invading in response— and while they destroyed their warships, they very carefully did not hurt anyone or plunder. And here Pepys expresses his shame. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes%27s_Bonfire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes%27s_Bonfire “It seems very remarkable to me, and of great honour to the Dutch, that those of them that did go on shore to Gillingham, though they went in fear of their lives, and were some of them killed; and, notwithstanding their provocation at Schelling, yet killed none of our people nor plundered their houses, but did take some things of easy carriage, and left the rest, and not a house burned; and, which is to our eternal disgrace, that what my Lord Douglas’s men, who come after them, found there, they plundered and took all away; and the watermen that carried us did further tell us, that our own soldiers are far more terrible to those people of the country-towns than the Dutch themselves.” June 30, 1667