William Adams was an English mariner who led a Dutch into the Pacific Ocean in 1598. This was during the Anglo-Spanish War, a period of 20 years where the Protestant nations of England and Holland fought with the Catholic Spanish and Portuguese. As an experienced navigator and leader of ships (Adams had previously fought with Francis Drake against the Spanish Armada), his knowledge was highly sought after by the fledgling Dutch Republic. So when five Dutch armed trading ships slipped out of their Texel harbor, they did so under the guidance of an English Pilot.
Today, the Mariners had to rely on the guidance of Emerson Hancock, who, unlike Adams against the Armada, has not yet distinguished himself.