So, who commanded the Zeeland ship Meermin in the First Anglo-Dutch War?

The ship Meermin (often written as Meerminne), of the Admiralty of Zeeland, was built in 1641. The ship was 130ft long and carried 34 guns. The ship is mentioned by Vreugdenhil, in his list, in the Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1654 (dated July 1654), and in a similar list published by Dr. Elias for the year 1655. Nowhere does either The First Dutch War, or Dr. Elias's books, mention the Zeeland Meermin. There are only three obvious candidates who might have commanded the Meermin. They are

• Daniel Corneliszoon Brackman
• Jan Duijm
• Jacob Wolfertszoon

Jan Duijm's ship must have been substantial, as she towed Michiel De Ruyter's flagship, the Witte Lam (40 guns) through the last two days of the Battle of Portland. Of the others, we really have no useful information. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910
2. Johan E. Elias, De Vlootbouw in Nederland 1596-1655, 1933
3. A. Vreugdenhil, Ships of the United Netherlands 1648-1702, 1938
4. Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1654