ABSTRACT
The Spanish system was the heavily committed in directions which tended away from the Dutch war and its essentially maritime concerns. The Monarchy's increasingly insufficient resources were under appalling strain, despite the extra financial provisions being made by Olivares' government. On the earlier phase of the Dunkirkers' activity- so much more important in terms of their relevance to the larger issues of the Spanish war-effort and the Dutch economy - Dr. R. Baetens' work is however less original and less helpful. English, French, and German vessels were often taken by the Dunkirkers even during years of official peace. In sum, therefore, there seems little reason to take serious issue with the Spanish scholar's overall evaluation of the Dunkirkers' achievement. In 1637, however, Don Lope de Hoces demonstrated dramatically that the two functions of transport and plunder could be successfully combined, with important effects on prize-figures and on the tactical thinking of the condeduque de Olivares.
