296 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



On July 19 the English fleet weighed anchor and shaped 

 its course northwards in its expedition against the Dutch 

 herring-boats. It consisted of sixteen ships, one Whelp, 

 and a frigate; and both Vice-Admiral Sir John Pennington 

 and Rear-Admiral Sir Henry Mervin accompanied the Earl. 

 Contrary winds compelled them to come again to anchor, 

 but on the 22nd a fair breeze carried them to the north of 

 Cromer, on the Norfolk coast. On Sunday, 24th, when at 

 Tynemouth, the Admiral called all his captains together and 

 gave them precise instructions in the event of their meeting 

 with any considerable opposition from the States' men-of-war 

 guarding the busses. On the 25th, 26th, and 27th, foul and 

 misty weather caused them to ride at anchor ten leagues off 

 the coast. About noon on the 28th they descried sixteen 

 sail of herring-busses accompanied by one man-of-war; and 

 immediately the Dutch skippers observed the English fleet 

 they made off "with all the sails they could pack on." 

 Northumberland's unwieldy ships started in pursuit "but 

 in vain," wrote the Earl, "for none of our ships could come 

 near them." The States' man-of-war was less fortunate or 

 more courageous. It was from the first far astern of the 

 busses, and it was soon overtaken by the Swan which, it 

 may be noted, was a Dunkirk privateer that had been captured 

 and converted into an English warship. Northumberland 

 kept the Dutch captain on board his own ship, the Triumph, 

 all night, expecting, as he said, that the busses would not 

 go far without him for of course they were liable to be 

 swooped upon by the privateers. But the fishermen now 

 feared the Dunkirkers less than they feared the English 

 fleet, and the Earl's ruse failed. After dark he sent off 

 four ships to try to surprise them at their nets, but "they 

 plied away all night without making any stop." l They 

 were well aware of the mission of the fleet, but they had 

 no mind either for the license or the protection of the King 

 of England. Next day Northumberland, finding that the 

 busses " trusted only to their good sailing " and did not return, 

 and that the convoying men-of-war were not likely to be 



1 The herring-busses in ordinary course fished all night in fleets, with their 

 drift-nets floating in the water ; during the day the crews were employed in 

 curing and packing the herrings caught. 



