Shortly after embarking on a journey towards the Dutch East Indies with trade goods and a company of soldiers, extreme weather conditions caused Wapen van Rotterdam to lose its masts and rudder and it was forced to take shelter in Ronas Voe for a number of months. A whistleblower in Shetland informed the English authorities of the ship's presence, and in response three Royal Navy men-of-war and a dogger were dispatched to capture the ship. After a short battle, the ship was captured and taken back to England as a prize of war.
An unknown number of up to 300 of the ship's crew were killed in the battle and were buried nearby in Heylor. A modern memorial to the Dutch crew is erected where they are believed to be buried, bearing the inscription "The Hollanders' Graves".
Background
An English language letter dated 24 November 1673, taken from aboard Wapen van Rotterdam, the first part of which explains the situation of the war which the ship may have been unfamiliar with upon their return from Batavia. It gives permission to the ship's crew to "use all hoſtilitie and dammage to French and Engliſh."
To avoid conflict with the English (with whom, due to the Third Anglo-Dutch War, the Dutch were at war), rather than passing through the English Channel, the ship was directed northwards where the plan would be to sail around the north of the British Isles (known as "going north about", which was commonly practised by Dutch East India ships at that time),[5] before heading southwards again.[6] Due to the extreme weather conditions in its journey northwards, the ship lost its masts and rudder,[7][8] and southerly winds prevented the ship from being able to pass through either the Pentland Firth or the Fair Isle Channel, so the ship was (probably with considerable difficulty)[6] taken into Ronas Voe in the north-west of Northmavine, Mainland, Shetland to shelter until the weather improved,[2] and to allow the ship to be repaired.[6] The voe (Shetland dialect for an inlet, firth or fjord)[9] forms a crescent shape around Ronas Hill, which would have allowed the ship to lie sheltered regardless of the direction of the wind.[10] A combination of prevailing southerly winds,[6] and, presumably, a scarcity of suitable wood available in Shetland at that time to replace its masts[11][12][ii] prevented the ship from continuing its journey, and as such it remained in Ronas Voe until March 1674.[14]
During their stay, the crew of the ship would have most likely traded Dutch goods such as Hollands gin and tobacco (and perhaps also goods on the ship originally destined for the Dutch East Indies) with the Shetlanders, in exchange for local foodstuffs available at that time, such as kale,[15]meal and mutton – either fresh or reestit.[6] The Shetlanders probably would have had quite a lot in common with the Dutch.[16] The native language of the local Shetlanders at that time would have been Norn, though English would have been understood and used fluently by most.[17] Many Shetlanders (of both the affluent and Commoners) were also fluent in Dutch, despite never having never left Shetland, due to the amount of trade done by Dutch ships in Shetland's ports.[18]
From 1603, the Kingdoms of England, Ireland and Scotland had all shared the same monarch with the Union of the Crowns, who by 1674 was Charles II. As such, Scotland was actively involved in the Third Anglo-Dutch War, despite not being included in the conflict's name.[19] Shetland, being a part of the Kingdom of Scotland, was therefore at war with the Dutch, however the local Shetland residents of Heylor and adjacent areas in direct contact with the Dutch may not have been aware of the conflict, and would not have considered the visitors as "enemies".[6] A letter must have been sent by someone with an understanding of the political situation (most likely a laird, minister, merchant, or some other member of the gentry in Shetland) to inform the authorities of the Dutch ship's presence,[6] and that it could not proceed due to it losing its masts and rudder.[8] As a result, a total of four Royal Navy ships – HMS Cambridge,[20] captained by Arthur Herbert (later the Earl of Torrington);[21]HMS Newcastle,[22] captained by John Wetwang (later Sir John Wetwang);[23]HMS Crown,[24] captained by Richard Carter;[25] and Dove,[26] captained by Abraham Hyatt[27] – were ordered to set sail for Shetland and to capture the ship.
Captain Herbert (Cambridge) was the first to receive his orders in a letter sent 21 February [O.S. 11 February] 1674 by the Royal Navy's Chief Secretary to the Admiralty Samuel Pepys.[28] He stated the orders were "at the desire of the Royal Highness", and stressed that the orders were to be carried out swiftly, as the Treaty of Westminster concluding the war was expected to be published within eight days, and any subsequent hostilities were to last no longer than twelve days.[28] The Treaty of Westminster had in fact been signed two days prior to this letter being sent, and was ratified in England the day before the letter was sent.[29]
The following day letters were sent to both Captains Wetwang (Newcastle) and Carter (Crown) enclosing the same orders.[30] Pepys also wrote again to Captain Herbert (Cambridge) to convey he had arranged for a pilot knowledgeable of Shetland's coast to be sent to him, as well as to inform him that Crown and Dove would accompany his ship.[31]
On 25 February [O.S. 15 February] Captain Herbert (Cambridge) wrote to Pepys to inform him that neither the pilot nor Dove had yet arrived. Pepys replied on 28 February [O.S. 18 February] to say he had sent instruction to hasten the pilot, and had enquired into Dove's delay.[32]
On 3 March [O.S. 21 February] Captain Taylor stationed at Harwich wrote to Pepys to inform him that Cambridge and Crown had passed by on their way to Shetland.[33] The same day, Pepys replied to a letter from Carter (Crown) to inform him that his five weeks' supply of victuals were enough to support his crew until their return from Shetland.[34]
On 6 March [O.S. 24 February], Dove was wrecked on the coast of Northumberland on the journey northwards, leaving the three remaining ships to continue towards Shetland.[26]
The battle is commonly reported to have occurred in February 1674,[1][2][3][6] however the only known extant contemporary report of the battle indicates that it occurred on 14 March [O.S. 4 March] 1674.[14] This was one day after Pepys' original twenty day deadline for the completion of his orders sent to Captain Herbert,[28] and 23 days after the signing of the Treaty of Westminster.[29]
Upon their arrival, Cambridge, Newcastle and Crown entered Ronas Voe, where a short, one-sided battle ensued.[6] While a single East Indiaman might have stood a chance, however small, against three much more manoeuvrable men-of-war on open seas, in the confined space of Ronas Voe and most likely still without replacement masts (evidenced by the fact the ship had not left Ronas Voe), Wapen van Rotterdam was completely outmatched.[6]
It is recorded that Newcastle captured Wapen van Rotterdam, and it was taken back to England as a prize of war.[10][4] A contemporary Dutch newspaper reported that while 400 crew were originally on board Wapen van Rotterdam, later only 100 prisoners were being transported by Crown,[14] suggesting up to 300 crew may have been killed, although additional prisoners might have been transported on the other English ships. Those killed in the battle were buried nearby in Heylor.[16] Both Cloet and the army captain survived the battle and were taken back to England with the rest of the surviving crew.[4]
Aftermath
Crown took aboard one hundred Dutch prisoners. When the ship returned to England, it experienced extremely bad weather (in which it was reported that 10 valuable ships between Great Yarmouth and Winterton-on-Sea had to be stranded, some of which were destroyed) and was unable to land before it reached Dover on 29 March [O.S. 19 March] 1674.[14] Samuel Pepys wrote to Captain Carter (Crown) on 31 March [O.S. 21 March], telling him "His Majesty and his Royal Highness are well pleased with his account of the good success of the Cambridge and Newcastle."[36] The ships returned to the Downs by 3 April [O.S. 24 March].[10] Pepys wrote to Captain Herbert (Cambridge) on 4 April [O.S. 25 March] and passed on that the Lords had commented, "Long may the civility which you mention of the Dutch to his Majesty's ships continue."[37]
Captain Wetwang directed the Dutch ship to Harwich on 7 April [O.S. 28 March] en route to the River Thames.[4] The remaining Dutch crew were put ashore in Harwich, after which Cloet and the army captain set sail back to the Dutch Republic in a packet boat.[4] Before departing, the Dutch captains valued Wapen van Rotterdam (and presumably also the trade goods on board) at approximately £50,000[4] – equivalent to £7,700,000 in 2021. In June the same year, the Lord Privy SealArthur Annesley asked the Principal Commissioners of Prizes and the Lord High Treasurer to award Captain Wetwang £500 – equivalent to £77,000 in 2021 – for his capture of the ship and its safe return to the Thames. This prize was to be funded from the sale of the goods aboard the ship, or if the value raised was insufficient to fund this prize, the Privy Seal instructed the Lord High Treasurer "to find out some other proper way for payment thereof, as a free gift."[38]
Letters carried by Wapen van Rotterdam were captured, and still survive in the English admiralty archives. They were partly published in 2014.[39]
Goods put up for sale
On 24 May [O.S. 14 May] 1674, many of the goods aboard the ship were put up for sale at the East India House, City of London:
Those goods still remaining on the ship following the sale, along with the sails and cables not offered for sale were catalogued and stored at his Majesties stores in Woolwich Dockyard by 2 July [O.S. 22 June] 1674:
Wapen van Rotterdam was renamed HMS Arms of Rotterdam and was refitted as an unarmed hulk. In 1703 Arms of Rotterdam was broken down in Chatham.[45]
The Hollanders' Graves
The Hollanders' Graves
The site where the bodies of those killed in the battle were buried is known as the Hollanders' Knowe, and the site is marked by a small granitecairn with a plaque that reads "The Hollanders' Graves". These are likely to be the first War graves recorded in Shetland.[16]
^Shetland supports only a small number of trees as of June 2014[update], although since the 1950s the number of trees has gradually increased[13]
^The value of the goods listed is the item's maximum sale value, not including advances that were offered to those buying all the goods in a single lot.
Brand, John (1809) [1701]. Pinkerton, John (ed.). A brief description of Orkney, Zetland, Pightland Firth, and Caithness, etc (In Pinkerton, John, Ed. A general collection of the best and most interesting voyages and travels). London. pp. 767. OCLC1041608289. OL13997155M. Engliſh is the common language among them, yet many of the people ſpeak Norſe, or corrupt Daniſh, eſpecially ſuch as live in the more northern iſles; yea, ſo ordinary is it in ſome places, that it is the firſt language their children ſpeak. Several here alſo ſpeak good Dutch, even ſervants, though they have never been out of the country, becauſe of the many Dutch ſhips which do frequent their ports. And there are ſome who have ſomething of all theſe languages, Engliſh, Dutch and Norſe.
Bruce, R. Stuart (1914). Johnston, Alfred W.; Johnston, Amy (eds.). "Part III – Replies – Naval Engagement, Rønis Vo, Shetland"(PDF). Old-Lore Miscellany of Orkney Shetland Caithness and Sutherland. VII (Old-Lore Series Vol. VIII). London: Viking Society for Northern Research: 101–103 – via Viking Society Web Publications.
Daniell, Francis Henry Blackburne, ed. (1904) [1674]. Charles II: June 1674. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. pp. 291–292. Retrieved 6 April 2019 – via British History Online. Privy Seal to the Principal Commissioners of Prizes and the Lord High Treasurer for payment of 500l. to Capt. John Wetwang, commander of the Newcastle, out of the proceeds of sale of the goods out of the Arms of Amsterdam, bound for the East Indies and seized by him near the Shetland Isles and brought safe to the Thames, and, if the said goods do not produce the said sum, the Lord High Treasurer is to find out some other proper way for payment thereof, as a free gift. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 359, p. 30.]((cite book)): |work= ignored (help)
Jack, William (1999) [1794]. Sinclair, Sir John (ed.). "Northmaven". The Statistical Account of Scotland Drawn up from the Communications of the Ministers of the Different Parishes. 12 (27). University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow: Edinburgh: William Creech: 359. OCLC1045293275. Retrieved 4 April 2019 – via The Statistical Accounts of Scotland online service.
Pepys, Samuel (1904) [1674]. Tanner, J. R. (ed.). "Admiralty Letters". Publications of the Navy Records Society. A Descriptive Catalogue of The Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge. 27 (2). The Navy Record Society: 247–285. OCLC848547357. OL24226048M. Retrieved 26 March 2019 – via archive.org.
Pepys, Samuel (1923) [1674]. Tanner, J. R. (ed.). "Admiralty Journal". Publications of the Navy Records Society. A Descriptive Catalogue of The Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge. 57 (4). The Navy Record Society: 30. OCLC827219323. OL14003544M. Retrieved 26 March 2019 – via archive.org.
Barshot from the battle between V.O.C. Het Wapen van Rotterdam and the British squadron of HMS Newcastle, Crown, Buck, Cambridge. In Ronas Voe, Dec. 1674. ca. 1673. [Cast iron]. At: Shetland Museum and Archives. SEA 7691.
"Sunderland, Febr. 22"(PDF). The London Gazette. No. 864. The Savoy: The Newcomb (published 2 March 1674). 22 February 1674. p. 2. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
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