Things Seen in Holland
erected a statue to Laurens Janszoon, called Coster (the Dutch word signifies “sexton,” for such was his occupation), and the Dutch claim that he invented printing before Gutenberg. The claim has long since been settled in favour of the latter, except in Dutch eyes. Among the pictures in the Stadhuis are the eight “Regent”
Piet Hein zijn naam is klein
Zijn daden bennen groot (bis)
Hij heeft gewonnen de zilvereu vloot."
A free translation of the above is:
“Did you hear of the silver fleet, of the silver fleet of Spain? There were lots of Spanish piastres on board, and orange apples! Piet Hein! Piet Hein! Piet Hein, his name is little, but great are his deeds, for he has conquered the silver fleet.”
“Orange apples” here signify gold. It was off Matanzas that Piet Hein captured the “silver Fleet,” which was conveying to Spain the large sum of £640,000.
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