EARLY HISTORY OF WHALING 109 



they had all of them as good a pair of homes grow- 

 ing on their heads, as is in this country." From 

 which it would appear that Master Sherwin was not 

 devoid of humour. 



Finally, James Beversham, writing to Master 

 Heley from Fairhaven (i2th July, 1618), complains 

 that the Biscainers have stolen one of the sixteen 

 whales they had killed. 



Heley was himself by this time in much greater 

 straits, since five of the Dutchmen, namely, the 

 Fortune of Camphire, four hundred tons, with 

 eighteen cast pieces beside brass bases and 

 " murtherers/' Captain Hubreght Cornelisson; the 

 Saint Peter of Flushing, three hundred tons, with 

 eighteen cast pieces, Captain Cornelius Cooke ; the 

 Salamander of Flushing, two hundred tons, fourteen 

 cast pieces, Captain Adrian Peeterson; the Cat of 

 Delph Haven, with sixteen cast pieces, Abraham 

 Leverstick being Captain and General of the 

 Zealanders, and William Johnson of Milliworth in a 

 ship with fourteen cast pieces, after much conference, 

 on the i Qth July forcibly set on Heley who was in 

 the Pleasure, attended by one English ship and a 

 pinasse. The Dutchmen plied their ordnance, 

 small shot and " murtherers." The English ships, 

 in spite of their resistance, were forced to anchor or 

 run ashore, their ships being rifled, and their casks 

 burnt. 



After this, the remaining English ships dispersed, 

 their voyage being " utterly overthrowne." They 

 returned empty, the Muscovy Company putting their 



