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Anthonis van Salingen and the First Anglo-Dutch War in the Mediterranean

In mid-1652, Anthonis van Salingen was a senior captain in the Dutch Mediterranean fleet. He commanded the Amsterdam Admiralty ship, the Zon, 40 guns. After the English commodore Appleton was trapped in Livorno with his division, van Salingen was left, with a division of four ships, to guard him. By doing so, he missed the Battle of Monte Cristo between Commodore Badiley and the Dutch fleet commander, Johan van Galen. The English severely handled the Dutch, but ended in a moral collapse, where they escaped to Porto Logone, on the island of Elba. Badiley's flagship, the Paragon had lost her mainmast, and had been severely punished. Morale was low after the frigate Phoenix was lost.

After Captain Salingen died on 30 November 1652 (probably an old style date), Cornelis Tromp became the commander. He had been disgraced by the English recapture of the Phoenix in Livorno harbor, in a daring raid.

This information is largely from R.C. Anderson's article "The First Dutch War in the Mediterranean" in the November 1963 Mariner's Mirror. I also consulted Dr. Elias' book Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen.

Claes Janszoon Sanger

Claes Janszoon Sanger commanded the Zeeland Admiralty ship, the West Cappelle. in August 1653, he was part of Michiel De Ruyter's fleet, engaged in convoying duties in the Channel. There is one list that calls his ship, the "Galjas van Middelburg".

Captain Sanger and his ship fought through the war, until the Battle of Scheveningen. Quite clearly, he was an English captive at the end of the battle. As a matter of policy, the English burnt any ships they captured in this battle.

Yet, in the "Staet van Oorlog te Water voor den jaare 1654", Captain Sanger and his ship are listed. As late as the Battle of Lowestoft, in 1665, a ship named West Cappelle was present.

I guess the most likely scenario is that the 1654 list is mistaken, and the West Cappelle of 1665 is a new ship.

Pieter Corneliszoon de Sitter

Pieter Corneliszoon de Sitter served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He first appears in Brandt's biography of De Ruyter in May 1667. He commanded the Amsterdam ship Jaarsveld (46 guns and a crew of 175 sailors and 30 soldiers). He was assigned to De Ruyter's squadron in the fleet. In June 1667, he was in the Thames, near Rochester, under Vice-Admiral Star. On 15 July 1667, he was in Lt.-Admiral van Nes's squadron. By May 1672, Captain de Sitter commanded the Agatha (50 guns). He was assigned to De Ruyter's squadron. He was at the Battle of Solebay, and his ship suffered 13 killed, 17 severely wounded, and 18 lightly wounded. He was also present for the Schooneveld battles in 1673, in the Van squadron under Banckert. At Schooneveld, the Agatha had a crew of 198 sailors and 47 soldiers. In August 1673, he was in Cornelis Tromp's squadron at the Battle of the Texel. In that battle, the Agatha had a crew of 180 sailors and 23 soldiers. In June 1674, Captain de Sitter commanded the Beschermer (50 guns and a crew of 188 sailors and 91 soldiers) on the expedition to Martinique. In July 1675, he was with De Ruyter, bound for the Mediterranean Sea. Captain de Bitter commanded the Zuiderhuis (46 guns and a crew of about 200 men). He was there for the battles in 1676, but I do not know his fate. He may have been killed at Palermo on 2 June 1676 (Andrew thinks that this may be the case). In any case, he died sometime in 1676. Many of the captains in De Ruyter's fleet were killed, as things went very badly for them, especially after De Ruyter's death.

Jan Snellen

Jan Snellen lived from about 1630 to 1691. He served the Admiralty of the Maze (Rotterdam). In May 1673, he commanded the frigate Utrecht (34 guns). He was part of Michiel De Ruyter's squadron. His ship had a crew of 133 sailors and 27 soldiers. In June, he still commanded the Utrecht.

Sources:

• Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijf van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, Amsterdam, 1687.
• Dr. J.R. Bruijn, De Oorlogvoering Ter Zee in 1673 in Journalen en Andere Stukken, Groningen, 1966.

Paulus Egbertszoon Sonck

Captain Paulus Egbertszoon Sonck (it is spelled Souck in The First Dutch War) commanded a ship named Amsterdam at the Battle of Scheveningen. The Amsterdam had 10 killed and 18 wounded in the battle. The ship had her mainmast, foremast and fore yard shattered, along withe the topmasts. She had taken 14 shot on or below the waterline. She had taken a great deal of damage above the waterline. She had started the battle with 5,000 lbs. of gunpowder and had 1,900 lbs. remaining at the end.

There is a passage from Dr. Elias' book Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol. V, page 179, which I have translated: "He [Witte de With] now had hope, as weather and wind cooperated, that this ship [the Huis te Zwieten] and the new one, built in the States shipyard in Amstelstad, armed with 50 guns, the warship Amsterdam (under the command of Captain Sonck), that had arrived in the Texel on the 2nd [of August 1653] and should be ready for sea "inside a few days".

This leads me to believe that my previous estimate was incorrect: that Captain Souck (or Sonck) commanded the Amsterdam that had previously been commanded by Simon van der Aeck. Instead, he seems to have commanded the newly built Amsterdam, a much larger ship, at Scheveningen. The other two new ships, the Huis te Zwieten (Witte de With's new ship) and the Huis te Kruiningen (Michiel de Ruyter's new ship), were not able to be ready by the date of the battle.

Captain Sonck commanded the Duivenvoorde (40 guns) at the Battle of the Sound in 1658, under the command of Lt-Admiral van Wassenaer. Captain Sonck's leg was shot off in the battle and he died as a consequence of his injury.

Fredrik Stachouwer

Fredrik Stachouwer was born on 28 November 1628 and died on 14 June 1666, the last day of the Four Days Battle.

He served the Admiralty of the Noorder-Kwartier. He had been a soldier, ensign, and lieutenat in Brazil to 1651. He was a lieutenant for the sea in 1652. He was a captain-lieutenant in 1662. In 1665, he was a captain and then Schout-bij-Nacht (Rear-Admiral).

In 1652-1654, he served as a lieutenant under Pieter Florissen in the First Anglo-Dutch War. In 1658, her served the same function in the Battle of the Sound. From 1658 to 1662, he was in the Danish service. In 1662, he was a captain-lieutenant under Volckert Schram. In 1665, he distinguished himself at Lowestoft. In 1666, he was killed at the Four Days Battle.

This information is from Mollema's book.

Enno Doedes Star

Enno Doedes Star lived from 1631 to 1707. He served the Admiralties of Friesland and Amsterdam. He was an Extraordinary Captain in 1658. A captain in 1665 and Vice-Admiral in 1666. From 1660 to 1661, he protected against Portuguese privateers in the Channel. In 1661 and 1664, he commanded supply ships for De Ruyter in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1664 to 1665, he served under De Ruyter off the coast of Guinea and in the West Indies. In 1666, he commanded the Gouden Leeuw (60 guns) in both the Four Days Battle and the St. James Day Battle. In 1667, he distinguished himself in the raid on Chatham and blockaded Harwich. In 1672, he commanded the Groningen at Solebay. In 1673, he distinguished himself at the Battle of the Texel (Kijkduin). In 1678, he served under Evertsen in the relief fleet near Spain. In 1691, he commanded a squadron in the combined English-Dutch fleet, the end of his service.

Auke Stellingwerf

In summary:

He was born in 1635 and was killed on 13 June 1665. He served the Friesland Admiralty. He was appointed captain in 1656. He became Lt-Admiral of Friesland in 1665. This was at a time when there was a reorganization where each admiralty was given a Lieutenant-Admiral. Previously, there was a single Lieutenant-Admiral. In the First Anglo-Dutch War, that was Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp. Auke Stellingwerf was extraordinarily young to be so elevated.

In 1656, he commanded the Prinsen Wapen, 40 guns, under Van Wassenaer in the Sound and before Danzig. In 1658, he fought under Van Wassenaer at the Battle of the Sound. In 1665, he was killed on the Zevenwolden, 60 guns, at Lowestoft.

Frederick Stellingwerff

About all we know about Fredrik Stellingwerff is that he served the Admiralty of Friesland at the Battle of Scheveningen. As I mentioned previously, his ship was the Zevenwolden. The Zevenwolden was captured at Scheveningen and sunk. Captain Stellingwerff went into captivity in England, where he died of disease, not that long after his capture.

Andries Stilte

Andries Stilte served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In 1686, he commanded the frigate Oudkarspel (36 guns). In that year, he refused to let the French search his ship. In 1688, still commanding the Oudkarspel, he was in the fleet that carried Willem III to England. In 1692, the Oudkarspel ran aground in the Slenk as was sunk. In 1693, he was with the Allied squadron in the Mediterranean Sea under the command of Sir George Rooke. He fought in the Battle of the Smyrna fleet, where he commanded the Gelderland (72 guns).

Sources:

• William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898.
• J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1869.

Hendrick Claeszoon Swart

He lived until 6 September 1652. He served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He was an Ordinary Captain in 1650.

In 1636, he distinguished himself and received a gold medal for capturing a Dunkirker. In 1643, he was in the blockade service before Dunkirk under Tromp and De With. In 1651 and 1652, he commanded the Vereenigde Provinciën under Catz before Livorno. He was killed, serving under Van Galen, in the Battle of Monte Cristo (Elba).

Jacob Andrieszoon Swart

He lived from about 1620 to 8 May 1679, and a captain for the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He was an Extraordinary Captain in 1652 and an Ordinary Captain in 1654.

In 1652 and 1653, he fought in the sea battles of the First Anglo-Dutch War, and distinguished himself at the Battle of Scheveningen (Ter Heide). In 1654, he served in the relief force sent to Brazil, but they arrived at the capitulation. In 1656, he commanded the three-masted yacht, Windhond (22 guns) under Van Wassenaer in the Sound and before Danzig. In 1659, he commanded the Vrede (40 guns) under De Ruyter in the Mediterranean Sea, and at Funen and Nyborg. In 1661, he commanded the Asperen (32 guns) under De Ruyter in the Mediterranean Sea an don the Portuguese coast. In 1665, he commanded the Huis te Kruiningen (62 guns) at the Battle of Lowestoft. In 1666, he distinguished himself on the Deventer in the Four Days and St. James Day Battles. In 1667, he commanded the Stad en Lande in the Raid on Chatham.

Jacob Corneliszoon Swart

He lived from about 1630 to about 1680. He served the Admiralty of Amsterdam and was a captain in 1659.

In 1659, he commanded the Dom van Utrecht (40 guns) under De Ruyter in the Sound. In 1661 and 1664, he served under De Ruyter in the Mediterranean Sea, on the Portuguese coast, and in the expeditions sent to Guinea and the West Indies. In 1666, he commanded the Provincie van Utrecht (60 guns) in the Four Days and St. James Day Battles. In 1667, he took part in the Raid on Chatham. In 1669, he served under Van der Zaan against the Algerians. He was dismissed due to an absence from duty. 1675, was taken back into the service. In 1676 and 1677, he fought under Schepers against Sweden at Malmö.

Jacob Pieterszoon Swart

He was a captain for the Admiralty of the Maze. He was a captain in 1666.

In 1666, he commanded the Schiedam (22 guns) in the Four Days and St. James Day Battles. In 1667, he fought at Chatham. He commanded the frigate Rotterdam (30 guns) in 1673, and fought at the Schooneveld Battles and at the Battle of the Texel. In 1674, he served under Cornelis Tromp on the French coast.

Jan Swart

Jan Swart lived from about 1640 to 3 March 1677. He served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He was a skipper in 1664, a lieutenant in 1666, a captain-Lieutenant in 1666, and a captain in 1673.

In 1666, he served as a lieutenant under Cornelis Tromp in the Four Days and St. James Day Battles. In 1667, he served as captain-lieutenant under Palm at the Raid on Chatham. In 1676 and 1677, he commanded the Middelburg (32 guns) in the expedition, under Benckes, to the West Indies. He ship was burnt in the action against d'Estrées at Tobago.

Volckert Hendrickszoon Swart

He lived from 1643 to 29 August 1673, and was a captain for the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He was a captain in 1666.

In 1666, he was the flag captain of Van Ghent in the Four Days and St. James Day Battles. In 1672, he commanded the Oisterwijck at the Battle of Solebay. In 1673, he commanded the Callantsoog (70 guns) at Schooneveld and the Battle of the Texel (Kijkduin), and was wounded and died at the last battle.

Sources:

• Dr. J.R. Bruijn, De Oorlogsvoering Ter Zee in 1673 in Journalen en Andere Stukken, Groningen, 1966.
• J.C. Mollema, The Honor Roll, contained as an appendix to Vol. 2 of Geschiedenis van Nederland ter Zee, 4 Vols., Amsterdam, 1939-1941

Cornelis Tijloos

Cornelis Tijloos lived from about 1650 to 1680. Like many in the 17th Century, his life was short. Usually, that was due to disease, although it is unclear in his case. Brandt first mentions Captain Tijloos in the May 1672 list. We know that he participated in the Battle of Solebay, where his ship had one man killed and one severely wounded. He next appears in May 1673, now in command of the Geloof (56 guns and a crew of 229 sailors and 51 soldiers), prior to the Schooneveld battles. He also fought in the Battle of the Texel in August 1673, still commanding the Geloof (now with a crew of 209 sailors and 20 soldiers). In July 1675, he commanded the Wakende Boei (46 guns and a crew of 200 men), in De Ruyter's fleet, headed for the Mediterranean Sea. He is next mentioned on 6 September 1675 under the command of Jacob Teding Berkhout and with a snauw and fireship. In January 1676, he was in Vice-Admiral De Haan's squadron. On 22April 1676, he was again in Vice-Admiral De Haan's squadron at Etna, where De Ruyter was mortally wounded. Gerard Callenburgh was De Ruyter's flag captain on the Eendracht (76 guns), and he temporarily assumed command. On 28 May 1676, Cornelis Tijloos was in Vice-Admiral Callenburgh's squadron near Palermo. Now Lt.-Admiral De Haan had secured Callenburgh the rank of temporary Vice-Admiral. On 1 June, in a battle at Palermo, De Haan was killed and Gerard Callenburgh again temporarily assumed command of the fleet, now with only 14 ships. I have no reference to Cornelis Tijloos after the 28 May date.

Otto van Treslong

Otto van Treslong was one of the few members of Dutch nobility to serve in the navy (Frank Fox). He lived from about 1640 to 11 June 1666. He served the Admiralty of Amsterdam, having become a captain in 1665. He was killed at the Four Days Battle, where he commanded the Duivenvoorde (46 guns), which was burnt. Previously, he had distinguished himself at the Battle of Lowestoft, where he had commanded the Stad Gouda (48 guns).

At Lowestoft, Captain Treslong was in Jakob Wassenaer's squadron, where Abraham van der Hulst was the second-in-command. At the Four Days Battle, Otto van Treslong was in Jan Janszoon van Nes' division in Aert van Nes' squadron.

This information is mainly from Frank Fox's book, A Distant Storm: The Four Days Battle of 1666. Some of it from Mollema's "Honor Roll".

Jacob Tronquoy (Troncquoy or Turquoy)

Jacob Tronquoy apparently was a controversial figure. There is even some question as to his identity. He may have served many years as Dionijs Tronquoy, before using the name Jacob Tronquoy, starting in 1639. According to Tromp's Journal and the "Booty List", Jacob Tronquoy was a convoyer with the Admiralty of Amsterdam. Dr. De Boer had remarked that it was strange, in examining 30 years of resolutions, to have never seen the name "Jacob Tronquoy". He says that Witte de With always referred to him as "Berchem's lieutenant". Dr. De Boer says that he is definitely mentioned as Berchem's lieutenant in De Graefe's list of ships and captains in Kapiteinsjaren. Dr. De Boer was sceptical of the charge against Tronquoy in a courtmartial for mutiny. There had been a controversial mutiny on his ship in 1641 where harsh sentences had been issued. These were later reduced, but Jacob Tronquoy never did become a "Ordinaris-Kapitein".

I do know that a Dionijs Tronquoij commanded the Amsterdam flute Campen in 1628. This was a vessel of 140 or 150 lasts that carried 18 guns and had a crew of 80 men. In 1636, Dionijs Tronquoij commanded the Haerlem (built in 1623) which was a large ship of 250 lasts and carried 32 guns.

I'm not convinced that Dionijs and Jacob were the same man. I have an alternative spelling of Troucquois for Jacob's last name. He is also referred to as Jacob Troucquois "alias Schaeff". In October 1639, he was under the command of Joris van Cats at the Battle of the Downs. In 1652, he commanded the Omlandia (30 guns and a crew of 100 men) . I have a listing for him as commanding the Zeelandia in 1658, which is inconsistent with what else I have seen.

Jan Gideonszoon Verburch (or Verburgh)

I have collected some notes, in support of my writing projects, about Jan Gideonszoon Verburch. I have seen handwritten documents (along with The First Dutch War) that refer to him as Verburch, not Verburgh. Frank Fox calls him "Verburgh", which may well be correct, as least by the current spelling systems in place, in the Netherlands.

My notes:

He was a late arrival from the Texel, to join De Ruyter’s fleet, probably on July, 1652 [1DW6, p.157]

On July 26, 1652, Capt. Jan Gideonssen Verburch was assigned as Commodore, with seven other captains reporting to him. [1DW2, p.49]

On July 31, 1652, Capt. Verburch received instructions that, if he were to fall in with the ships returning from Spain, that he was to convoy those ships back to the Netherlands. [1DW2, p.56]

Promoted to Rear Admiral in De Ruyter's fleet on August 18, 1652 [1DW2, p.111]

Listed as being part of De Ruyter's fleet, in the ship the Graaf Willem, with 120 men [1DW2, p.147]

On September 2, 1652, attended a council of war on board De Ruyter's ship, the Neptunus [1DW2, p.164]

In early 1653, Jan Gideonssen Verburch (Verburgh) was captain of the Amsterdam ship, the Graaf Willem, which had 40 guns and a crew of 140 men. His ship was listed as lying, ready, in the Texel, but a notation on the list says that she was out to sea. [1DW4, p.309]

In 1659, Jan Gideonszoon Verburgh commanded the ship, de Amsterdam, which was part of the fleet, commanded by De Rutyer, that was operating near Denmark. The ship had a crew of 225 men and carried 54 guns. This was a ship belonging to the Amsterdam Admiralty. [Grove, p.xiv]

Bibliography:

[1DW4] ed. Atkinson, C.T., First Dutch War, Vol.IV, Navy Records Society, London, 1909.

[1DW6] ed. Atkinson, C.T., First Dutch War, Vol.VI, Navy Records Society, London, 1930.

[1DW2] ed. Gardiner, Dr. S.R., First Dutch War, Vol.II, Navy Records Society, London, 1899.

[Grove] Grove, G.L., Journalen van de Admiralen Van Wassenaer-Obdam (1658/59) en De Ruyter (1659/60), Amsterdam, 1907.

Joost Verschuur

Joost Verschuur was a captain of the Admiralty of Amsterdam (~1630-January 1672). He became a captain in 1658. In 1659, he commanded the Leeuwarden (36 guns) in De Ruyter's fleet in the Sound. In 1664 and 1665, he served with De Ruyter in the Mediterranean and on the Portuguese coast. During the operations leading up to the start of the Second Anglo-Dutch War, Joost Verschuur was with Van Kampen's squadron, near Guinea, meant to rescue or recapture outposts on the African coast. In 1665, he commanded the Zuiderhuis (56 guns) at the Battle of Lowestoft. During 1666, he commanded the Jaarsveld (56 guns) at the Four Days Battle and the St. James Day Battle (the Two-Days Battle). In 1667, he commanded the Amsterdam (62 guns) in the raid on Chatham. In 1670, he was part of Van Ghent's operations against the Algerian pirates.

In January of 1672, he was captain of the Waesdorp (70 guns), when he died.

Hendrik Visscher

The first time that we have seen Hendrik Visscher mentioned was as captain of the Jonge Prins (62 guns) in Jan Meppel's division at the St. James's Day Battle. He served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. I just looked through the lists in Brandt and saw that he was with the fleet on 23 June 1672. I had missed that the first time I had examined the lists. He was in Banckert's squadron at the Battle of Solebay, and commanded the Wapen van Medemblik (46 guns). At the Schooneveld battles in 1673, he again commanded the Wapen van Medemblik (now 44 guns). For these battles, he was in De Ruyter's squadron. At the Battle of the Texel, we assigned to Jan de Liefde's division. Hendrik Visscher was killed in this battle.

Barend Hidde de Vries

Barend Hiddes de Vries served the Admiralty of Friesland. At the Battle of Lowestoft, he commanded the Postiljon van Smryna (40 guns) in Auke Stellingwerf's Fourth Squadron. At the Four Days Battle, he commanded the Elf Steden (54 guns) in Tjerk Hiddes de Vries' squadron. At the St. James Day Battle, Barend Hiddes de Vries commanded the Elf Steden in the same squadron. In June 1667, his ship, still the Elf Steden, was lying with the Friesland squadron in the Konings Diep. This is the last instance where Barend Hiddes de Vries is mentioned, in Brandt's biography of De Ruyter (that I can find).

Willem Baron van Wassenaer Starrenburgh

Willem Baron van Wassenaer Starrenburgh served the Admiralty of the Maze. In 1696, he commanded the Provincie van Utrecht (48 guns) in the squadron in the North Sea commanded by Captain van Zyll. In 1697, he fought a losing battle against Duguay-Trouin's squadron. In 1702, he fought in the Battle of Vigo Bay, where he commanded the Veluwe (64 guns). He captured a Spanish Galleon.

Sources:

• William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898.
• J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1869.

Dutch captains named Wijnbergen

Several Dutch captains named Wijnbergen served during the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch Wars. One was Pieter Wijnbergen who served the Admiralty of Rotterdam (the Maas). He commanded the yacht Lopende Hert (8 guns) at the Battle of Lowestoft. A year later, he commanded the three-masted yacht Swol (18 guns) at the Four Days and St. James' Day Battles.

Another captain with a similar name was Pieter Klaaszoon Wijnbergen, who served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He commanded the Westfriesland (50 guns) at the Battle of Lowestoft. In 1666, he commanded the Noorderkwartier (60 guns) at the Four Days and St. James's Day Battles. In 1667, he participated in the Raid on the Medway. In 1671, he commanded the Justina van Nassau (64 guns). In July 1672, he commanded the Wapen van Hoorn (70 guns).

His son, Klaas Pieterszoon Wijnbergen, commanded the Caleb (46 or 50 guns) during the battles in 1673.

Witte de With

There obviously was a bitter, professional rivalry between Witte Corneliszoon de With and Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp. They were very close in age, born a year apart. Tromp's career was given a boost by him being flag captain for Piet Hein for the Silver Fleet operation.

Witte de With was also known as having a raging temper, and was not personally liked. However, he was also trusted with important commands, because he was known to be a good commander. For example, Witte de With commanded the big operation in 1645 to force a large fleet of merchantment past the Danes without paying the toll.

When the Zeelanders were pressing for someone to rescue their failing venture in Brazil, Witte de With was also sent. In this case, he was set up in a no-win situation. He was sent with a small fleet, with no logistical support. They fought a small battle and took losses due to a Portuguese captain who blew up his ship. When they returned from the debacle, after some crews mutinied, they imprisoned Witte de With. Prince Willem II was ready to have him executed. He was saved after the incident when Willem II died.

The First Anglo-Dutch War was a case where Witte de With was trusted with a great deal of responsibility, but was greatly disliked by the Orangists/Royalists for his Republican stance. They also disliked his no-nonsense approach to timidity or outright cowardice.

At the Battle of the Kentish Knock, Tromp supporters wouldn't let Witte de With on board the Brederode, even though it had been his flagship for most of the time since 1645.

Witte de With had been given his chance to command the Dutch fleet, after Tromp's abortive voyage to the Shetlands, in July-August 1652. He was put on the beach for that little outing. Witte de With was given command, as he was the most qualified commander available.

He was still using the Prinses Louise as his flagship. It only carried 36 guns, most of which were 12-pounders.

At the Battle of the Kentish Knock, the English had two very large ships: the Sovereign, 90 guns, and the Resolution, 88 guns.

The Dutch had several fairly large ships at the battle. One was Witte de With's former flagship, the Brederode, of 54 guns. This had been Tromp's flagship, and probably was commanded by Egbert Meeuwsen Kortenaer, in place of Tromp. They denied Witte de With access to the ship, as the crew were Tromp supporters.

The only alternative available that was large enough was the East Indiaman, the Prins Willem. The Prins Willem was a fairly new ship, having been built as recently as 1649. She was almost as long as the Sovereign, being 170 Amsterdam feet from stem to sternpost. That is about 157 feet-9 inches, in English feet and inches.

The Prins Willem only carried about 40 guns, with mainly 18 pounders in the lower tier. The big English ships probably had Cannon-of-7 (42 pounders) on the lower tier.

The Dutch were lucky to escape with only two ships lost (one blown up and one captured).

Lievens Corneliszoon de Zeeuw

This is what J.C. Mollema had to say about Lievens de Zeeuw:

He served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He became a captain in 1636.

In 1637, he commanded the Wapen van Nassau under Tromp before Dunkirk. In 1639, he fought at the Battle of the Downs. For his service, he received a gold medal. In 1643 of the blockading force before Dunkirk. In 1645, he served with Witte de With in the Sound. That was when they forced a fleet of merchantmen into the Sound without paying the toll to the Dutch. There is a picture on my website of De Zeeuw's ship sailing from the Vlie, with the fleet: Wapen van Nassau sailing from the Vlie in 1645. De Zeeuw served as a temporary Schout-bij-Nacht, under Witte de With, in the rescue fleet sent to Brazil and fought at the battle for Bahia, after which De With removed him from his position.

The other sources supplied the following information:

Lieve Corneliszoon de Zeeuw was a captain of the Noorder-Kwartier Admiralty. He fought during the war of independence from Spain. I do not know much about him, except that he was the son-in-law of Hillebrandt Gerritszoon Quast. He served in his ship as lieutenant, up until Quast's death in February 1637. He was appointed captain, in place of his late father-in-law. In at least one place, he was called "Luwe" de Zeeuw (hence my speculation that his name was Lieuwe). I will need to check my archival documents to see if I might find Lieve de Zeeuw mentioned. I may not, as usually, only the captain is listed.

In October 1639, Lieve de Zeeuw was in Joost Banckert's squadron, right before the Battle of the Downs, when the Spanish fleet was heavily defeated in English waters. His ship was the Noorder-Kwartier admiralty ship, the Wapen van Holland, which had 39 guns and a crew of 120 men. On October 8, 1639, he attended a council of war on board Tromp's flagship, the Aemelia. I have not read the whole story about his participation during 1639, but I do have some references:

• C. R. Boxer, The Journal of Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp Anno 1639, Cambridge, 1930.
• Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Armada van 1639, Amsterdam, 1941.
• Dr. F. Graefe, De Kapiteinsjaren van Maerten Harpertszoon Tromp, Amsterdam, 1938.

I know a little more, due to Dr. Graefe, about Lieve de Zeeuw's ship (From appendix V):