Dutch Captain: Cornelis Laurenszoon

Cornelis Laurenszoon served the Amsterdam Directors. His ship was apparently one of those added to the fleet after the Battle of Portland. He commanded the larger of the two ship named Sint Matheeus. His ship was 144ft long and had a beam of 36ft. My estimate is that the hold was 17ft in height. We know the ship's measurements taken by the English, and the 17ft is an estimation based on the English depth. He fought in the Battle of the Gabbard, where his ship was one of those which collided and became entangled in the evening of the second day (13 June 1653). One ship broke free, the small Friesland jacht Prins Willem (Jan Coenders). The others were captured. They were the Sint Matheeus (Cornelis Laurenszoon), the Vergulde Zon (Jacob Duym), and the Halve Maan (Hendrik Pieterszoon). Sources:

1. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
2. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
3. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.V, 1928.