306 NORTH SEA FISHERS AND FIGHTERS 



malignant or belittling to be written concerning the 

 Hollanders, and for more than a century English scribes 

 were sure of gaining admiration and approval if they 

 were virulent enough in describing the achievements of 

 the enemy. 



"Shocking instance of barbarity by the Dutch," 

 " Tyrannical conduct and cruelty of the Dutch " these 

 and headings like them were welcome fare for English 

 readers, especially when served in company with such 

 incidents as " Ludicrous terror of a Spanish captain," 

 " Horrible instance of French cruelty," " English courage 

 displayed in a gallant enterprise, and Dutch cowardice 

 exposed," " Independent and heroic conduct " of a British 

 officer. If the English writers were to be credited then 

 there was nothing in a Dutchman but monstrous in- 

 humanity and " square-face " courage, and nothing in the 

 British heart but valour. Yet the truth was that the 

 Englishman found in the Dutchman a foe as brave and 

 resourceful as himself, and just as much a son of the North 

 Sea. May it not be well said of these fishers and fighters 

 from both sides of the North Sea that strife was in the 

 blood of them and had to find an outlet ? There was more 

 excitement behind the gun and pike and in slashing with 

 the cutlass than there was in shooting and hauling nets on 

 lonely fishing-banks, and more prospect of reward in prize- 

 money ; yet there was scarcely greater danger, for a 

 North Sea gale, sweeping over the fishing-craft, might 

 and often did cause as much suffering and loss as a well- 

 contested battle with the gun and sword. 



Broom and whiplash figure largely in that story of the 

 early fights between the English and the Dutch for con^ 

 quest of the Narrow Seas. Almost at the end of 1652 



