CAPTAINS AND CREWS

In the maritime world of the early modern period, neither the sailors nor the ships enjoyed much security of tenure. In a very real sense they lived and died together in a common chain of experience. As already amply demonstrated, the Flanders armada saw a good deal of battle, indeed considerably more than the average fighting force, even allowing for a tactical context in which everything was done to maximise the use of military resources. But even had this been otherwise, it is difficult to imagine that life would have been much easier or the chances of survival on any voyage radically improved. Casualties were higher in a wooden navy – in and out of battle – than in the war on land. There was the ever-present danger of fire, and the virtual impossibility of isolating disease. The environment was chronically hostile. Death from privation and disease was ubiquitous. Administrators, anxious to save on any expense, rarely failed to discover and record the passing of someone on the paybook, and, even amongst officers, death at sea and on shore was almost a daily event.

Risks of illness and injury were increased by the maritime life, but at least patients were cared for, both on board and on shore, by the Crown's provision of medical and hospital services. Health facilities were improved in Dunkirk in the 1620s by setting aside a proportion of royal prizemoney for surgeons and hospital needs.