The lower part of all the rivers, where they mingled with the sea and became wide Estuaries, belonged to the Republic, for the coasts and the ocean were in the hands of the Hollanders and English.
"History of the United Netherlands, 1586-89, Vol. II. Complete"
John Lothrop Motley Last Updated: February 7, 2009
Armed vessels of every size, from the gun-boat to the galleon of 1200 tons-then the most imposing ship in those waters-swarmed in all the Estuaries and rivers, and along the Dutch and Flemish coast, bidding defiance to Parma and his armaments; and offers of a large contingent from the fleets of Jooat de Moor and Justinua de Nassau, to serve under Seymour and Howard, were freely made to the States-General.
"History of the United Netherlands, 1586-89, Vol. II. Complete"
John Lothrop Motley Last Updated: February 7, 2009
Farther along the coast, invisible, but known to be performing a post perilous and vital service, was a squadron of Dutch vessels of all sizes, lining both the inner and outer edges of the sandbanks off the Flemish coasts, and swarming in all the Estuaries and inlets of that intricate and dangerous cruising-ground between Dunkerk and Walcheren.
"History of the United Netherlands, 1586-89, Vol. II. Complete"
John Lothrop Motley Last Updated: February 7, 2009