85 Wives’ tale

In the 17th century the life of sailors wasn’t easy. They were a long time away from home if they came home at all. Michiel de Ruyter had a relatively charmed career. He was wounded only twice and survived. The first time when he was just a lad he was wounded and taken prisoner by the Spanish. He escaped and walked home from La Coruna. The second time was when still in his early twenties he got an axe in the back of his head fighting the feared pirates of Dunkirk. The third time he didn’t survive. Sailors tended to marry girls from home, because they knew how life was, coping without men. A life at home with a husband at sea wasn’t easy especially when the money ran out and children had to be fed. However it had also its compensations. The women of the Dutch islands were independent of character, knew how to be thrifty and were money wise. They often bought her husband’s ship’s supplies and knew how to get a good deal. If they survived long enough to develop those talents. The main trouble that faced women in the 17th century wasn’t life without men, but having children. Childbirth itself and complications after childbirth were the major causes of death. De Ruyter had three wives. The first one died in childbirth and her child soon after. About 5 years later he married again. 13 years and 4 children later she kicked the bucket too. Only 2 of the four kids survived. During those years De Ruyter traded with the ‘Sant’. By then h had a nice bit of money to his name and got the honour of having citizenship of the city of Vlissingen. De Ruyter was looking for certain qualities in his next wife and that wasn't youth and beauty. He wanted someone he could grow old and wealthy with; somebody with a sense for business and in robust health.