HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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Zeland squadrons, if the designe bee put in execution timely, when theDutch capitall shipps are newlv gott below Wieringen Flatts, which by goodintelligence may be certainely known, and which usually happens (in case gf warrwith us) about the middle of April!.

The like opportunity may bee gott about August, after their men are paidoff, which (for the most part) is before theire capitall shipps are discharged oftheir gunns, &c. and put in safety.

Thus all the great shipps of Enchusen, Medemblick, Edam, Horne, &c. areliable to the like fate of being destroyed, if found loading or unloading, being atthose times, for want of water, forced to ride out of command of those townes.

If a warr with the Dutch should happen when (as at this day) the Dane isheartily our friend, so as readily to joine with us in the warr, it would greatly addto the designe to be sett on foote there, by buying or building vessells in Den-marke for this service, which may bee done more expeditiously, &c. with lesscharge, and sooner manned, than in England.

As for the lack of seamen, possibly reconned the most difficult, they may beehad to what number you please from Bremen, Hambro’, Lubeck, Rostock, &c. forthose shipps early in the spring, by which the Dutch will not onely bee deprivedof an opportunity of manning their fleete, as haveing always on like occasionshad the much greater part of their seamen out of these places, but also bee forcedto give a greater rate for seamen than heretofore ; and have those seamen that informer w'arrs have been against us, now jmployed against the Dutch, and forlucre of plunder, they may be found as forward as the English.

His Majestie of Denmarke, at this day, has the shipps following fitt for thisservice, viz,

GUNS.

guns.

Homer

26

Postillion - 14.

Swordfish

4 +

White Faulcon 26

Tumbler, alias Porpus

44

44

Dragoner

30

Swerver

16 a

good snyler, and rows \yell.

Each of these shipps’ gunns are weighty, and yet the biggest, when victualledand manned, draws not more water than twelve foote.

This designe may bee carryed on in Denmarke, as if fitted for some part ofthe West Indies, &c. and thence bee brought into Boston Diepe under pretence

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