During the second half of the seventeenth century, England and France committed themselves to conflicts with the United Provinces of the Netherlands on several occasions, usually related to commercial rivalry.  The Anglo-Dutch War of 1665-67 ended in an effective stalemate; then, in May 1672, Charles II (of England) found himself obliged – under a secret treaty – to support France’s war with the Netherlands, but this proved such a disastrous mistake that Parliament forced the King to sue for peace early in 1674.  Despite the loss of his ally, Louis XIV (of France) remained determined to achieve his ambition to acquire, by conquest, the so-called ‘Spanish Netherlands’ (modern day Belgium), as well as reducing Dutch power and influence across the globe including in the Americas.

However, when the threat from the English Navy was neutralised by peace, the Dutch mustered a strong squadron under Vice-Admiral Jacob Binckes and despatched it to the Caribbean under orders to attack French possessions there and to harry French trade in the area.  The Dutch offensive began well with the capture of Cayenne and a raid on San Domingo, after which Binckes repossessed the island of Tobago [a former Dutch colony which had fallen to indigenous rebels] and made it his base of operations.  The French, meanwhile, had had much the same idea about an expedition to the Caribbean and, in the autumn of 1676, eight ships-of-War sailed westbound from Brest under the command of Vice-Admiral le Comte d’Estrėes flying his flag in the Glorieux.  Heading first for Cayenne, which he retook by personally leading the landing party, he then made for Martinique where he picked up three more ships as well as extra troops.  With his expeditionary force now ready for an invasion, d’Estrėes sailed for Tobago in February 1677 and the stage was set for what would become the greatest confrontation between European fleets in the Caribbean to date.

Early on the morning of 3^rd March 1677, with the Dutch ships in a safe anchorage off the island  under the protection of the powerful coastal fortress, the French fleet hove into sight and headed into the bay.  Although the number of ships on both sides was essentially the same, the French had significantly more firepower, not least thanks to their 60-gun flagship Glorieux. The guns of the fort proved invaluable to ‘even the score’ however, and once both sides opened fire, the action rapidly developed into a bitter fight eventually culminating in an inferno after a Dutch vessel, the Leyden, caught fire and set light to the French 46-gun Marquis which very soon blew up.  Debris from her rained down upon both of the closely-engaged fleets and, in a short time, the Glorieux was also ablaze and sinking.  As more and more vessels caught fire, d’Estrėes had no alternative but to signal a retreat having lost four valuable ships and with two others severely damaged.  It was a significant humiliation for France and only avenged in December the same year when the second French attempt to take Tobago was successful.

This splendid panorama by van Beecq, very likely the first ever topographical view of Tobago, depicts the scene soon after dawn on 3^rd March 1677, as the French fleet sails majestically into the bay, with the Dutch ships lying at anchor beyond, but before the action commences.  Moreover, in a delightful touch of historical accuracy, van Beecq has even shown the French 56-gun L’Intrėpide foundering offshore [to the right of the centre] after striking an uncharted rock thus making her the first casualty of this momentous day.