Banckert's first sortie
WINTER OPERATIONS
19
The British knew Banckert had gone to sea: Downing thought his destination to
be either the Sound - to intercept naval supplies - or the English north-east coast
coal trade.70 It was the latter.71 This was the only British trade route then open to
Dutch attack without leaving the North Sea - the Hamburg and Gothenburg
ships, even if ready, were stopped by ice and needed a large naval escort. The coal
trade was vital all year round, especially in winter: although a blockade of London
(as in summer 1667) was then impossible, due to the season and force available,
the Dutch could exert considerable pressure simply by interrupting the traffic and
forcing the price up.
Table 2. Banckert's squadron, December 1664-12 January 1665
Banckert's four frigates (Table 2) sailed by 3 January 1665 (perhaps earlier, some
time after 29 December 1664) and returned to Dutch waters on 10 January. He
does not seem to have entered the Downs itself, but first appeared just outside, at
the North Foreland and searched neutral shipping (for contraband) off Margate -
right under the noses of the British, right next to one of their principal war anchor
ages. Dutch spirits were high: Amsterdam was full of talk of 'exploites to be done
by their men of warre out of Zeiand'. Amsterdam had her own frigate squadron
out at the same time: it may have been this or Banckert's that was now stopping
and searching neutrals off the north-east English coast. Banckert was certainly in
this area as on 5 January his squadron caught eight English merchantmen close
against the shore near Flamborough Head taking five and driving the other three
ashore. There was some panic in nearby Bridlington that the Dutch intended to
land and burn the town, indicating the general atmosphere of uncertainty and
trepidation.
Ambassador Van Gogh and Secretary Cunaeus in London soon warned that seven
British warships had been detached from the Downs and sent north to catch the
Dutch, but it was far too late to warn Banckert - even if despatch yachts had been
available to send out to him (the Zeelanders had none at this precise time). Now
homebound, Banckert was hotly pursued by eight or nine large British warships -
the force, it seems, then based at Harwich under Jeremy Smith {Mary, 66).
Escaping, the Zeelanders lost one of their five prizes on the Schouwen banks.73
Banckert's four warships with their four remaining prizes arrived at Flushing on 10
and 12 January; they narrowly missed a snow storm which badly damaged the
British force, one of which limped into the Downs. Downing confirmed the return
of Banckert's ships each with a small prize with coales and salt and such like
Adriaan Banckert Zeeridder
Simon Block Zeelandia
Jan Banckert Delft
Marinis Loncke Westcappel
Guns Seamen Soldiers
36 143 40
34 120 30
34 120 30
26 81 28
