Dutch Captain: Robbert Post

Robbert Post commanded the ship Deventer during the campaign against the Spanish Armada in 1639 that led up to the Battle of the Downs. The Deventer was a substantial ship, being 250 lasts. The Deventer carried 32 guns and had a crew of 120 men. The Deventer had been built by the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In 1636, Jacob Brouwer had been her commander. He was succeeded by Govert Gerritszoon Voorens from June 1637 up until 1639. Due to Govert Vooren's problems, partly created by his bad relations with Witte de With, Robbert Post commanded the Deventer at the Battle of the Downs. A 250-last ship could have been 130ft x 32ft x 13ft. We really can't know the exact dimensions due to the uncertain way that lasts were calculated or measured. The "factor" could vary widely. I know of examples that vary between 217 and 233 or greater. There are a few examples where the factor is claimed to be less than 200. Sources:

1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
2. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Armada van 1639, 1941.
3. Dr. F. Graefe, De Kapiteinsjaren van Maerten Harpertszoon Tromp, 1938.