Pirates & Privateers: P. G. Rogers's Books

First published three years after the tercentenary, Rogers’s account of the Dutch attack in the River Medway received worldwide praise. He wrote it because previously English works failed to provide a historical perspective of the raid. His contacts in England and the Netherlands, which provided access to both countries’ archives and published works, also permitted him to provide a more informed account from a fair and impartial point of view. On the 350th anniversary, Seaforth has republished this detailed history so new readers can gain a better understanding of the events leading up to, during, and following the June 1667 attack.

To the Dutch the raid is the tocht naar Chatham (trip to Chatham). To the British it remains one of the worst military and naval defeats in the United Kingdom. To best understand how this event comes to be, one must first go back in time to an earlier period in each nation’s past. The opening chapters recap these countries’ historical development, explain how they become interconnected, and examine their maritime and commercial rivalry that ultimately leads to the Anglo-Dutch Wars. Rogers also discusses the English and Dutch navies, problems plaguing the Chatham Dockyard, and the battle-readiness of England and the United Provinces of the Netherlands prior to the raid. He introduces the key participants, such as Raad-Pensionairis Johan de Witt, King Charles II, and Michiel de Ruyter, who is commander-in-chief of the Dutch fleet.

The second half of the book focuses on the raid itself. This is where Rogers’s familiarity with the geography shines through in such detail that readers easily visualize these events as they happen. The end results of the raid are the capture of Sheerness Fort, Royal Charles, and Unity; the destruction of other Royal Navy vessels; and the panic that spreads through Britain. Its effect on British morale, the assessment of blame after the raid, what happens to the key participants, and the lessons learned round out this volume. A postscript summarizes what occurs at the tercentenary to which the Dutch were invited.

The Dutch in the Medway is a well-rounded, easy-to-read, and comprehensive presentation of the attack. The use of sources from both countries presents a non-biased account, and the insertion of quoted passages from primary documents adds to the recounting’s immediacy. Maps, footnotes, a list of sources, the index, and color plates depicting the attack and the people involved further enhance the reading experience. This book is also an invaluable addition to any collection on English, Dutch, and naval history.