CHARLES I. : THE NAVY 



297 



able to oppose him, two or three "very meane ships only 

 able to defend them from the Dunkirk frigates" accompany- 

 ing each fleet of busses, and hearing, moreover, that the 

 principal fishing was past and most of the busses gone 

 home, resolved to divide his fleet into three squadrons, the 

 better to meet in with those which remained. Sir John 

 Pennington was sent to the north as far as Buchan Ness, 



Fig. 10. Dutch Herring-busses under sail. After Van der Meulen. 



and Sir H. Mervin to the south as low down as Flamborough 

 Head, each with instructions to use his best endeavours to 

 get the Dutchmen to take the king's licenses, while the Earl 

 himself plied "to and again" between them. Next day- 

 Saturday, 30th July being misty and calm, Northumberland's 

 squadron lay at anchor. About noon they espied four or 

 five sail at a distance, and as there was not a breath of 



