THe desires and Curiosity of some People , and especially those who were my Friends , hath made me a little more then commonly Industrious to procure the best Intelligence I could Possibly to give them satisfaction concerning the dispute between the French and Dutch at Tobago , which is as follows .

Some time since we had an Account how Count D'Estrees had assaulted Tobago with great Resolution both by Sea and Land , in which there was great Loss suffered on both sides , which by the first advice , was , That Eleven of the Dutch Ships were lost , and only four of the French , but the French were totally worsted by Land ; The second seemed to speak much to the same purpose , only somewhat more favourable of the Dutch , which is the less to be regarded , because all these Intelligences came by the way of France , the Dutch not having received the least intimation from the Sieur Binches , nor from any other hand of certainty that can believe , but what they received from England , by a Ship lately Arrived there from some of the English Colonies adjacent to the said Tobago .

The Count D'Estrees by the King his Masters particular command and appointment , was to provide himself with such a Force and Power , as might not only be able to annoy the Dutch in those Parts , but to reduce Tobago , which the Dutch had taken from the French sometime since , To which purpose he put on Board Two Thousand Souldiers , some Hundreds of Gentlemen Volunteers and Planters , besides a large proportion of Marriners above his Complement ; with this Fleet which consisted of near Twenty Sail , or thereabouts , great and small , being Ships for the most part of very considerable force , and much Superior to the Dutch , they arrived in the same place the latter end of February 1676 , where the Count D'Estrees called a Council of War , to consider which was the best way to Attaque the Dutch , and by a general consent and allowance it was determined both by Sea and Land at one time , to which purpose 1500 men was put on Shore , under the Command of the Sieurs Grand Fountain and Horovard ; and the Conduct and care of the Fleet to the Count D'Estrees himself .

The Dutch in the mean time , as it highly concerned them to resist such a Power , was not wanting to make the most considerable Defence they could , and therefore had very strongly fortified themselves at Land , and for their better security next the Sea , had built a Platform , on which was mounted 30. Piece of Ordnance , under whose Protection their Ships lay , and was the chief occasion of the French loss , for the Dutch being weak in Shiping , were forced only to be defensive , being moov'd as near as conveniently they could along the Shore by the Plat-form , which was very vigorously assaulted by the said Count , and a most ob●tinate Fight continued for some hours , wherein the Dutch lost near their whole Fleet , being eleven in Number , amongst which was the Defender in which the S●●ur Binches was , and the Zeland both run a Shore , the one of 50 Guns , and the other 44 Guns , and the Croningen another of their Capital Ships of 56 Guns burnt , with seven others .

Notwithstanding the said loss on the Dutch side , 't was impossible to dissodge them from the Plat-form , which they maintained with so much Resolution and Courage , that after the Count had attempted it with as much gallantry as was possible for any Man , was forc'd to decline it , and leave five or six of his Ships buried in the Ocean , besides two that fell into the Enemies hands , as an everlasting Monument of his undoubted Gallantry . His own Ship the Glorieux being Fired casually , being a Vessel of 72 Brass Guns , and near 500 Men , was resolved not to survive so great a disappointment , but that at length , by the perswasion of some , himself with some few others , escaped a shore in a shallop , where he met with that unwelcome news of the Defeat of his Forces at Land , where the Dutch had ( for they certainly expected a visit from the French ) so strengthned themselves , that had the French been double the number they were , they could not in Reason have prevailed . For the Dutch had raised a new Fort , wherein were several Pieces of Ordnance in a most advantageous Place , and though it was bravely attempted by the French several times , they were still beaten off with very great Slaughter , wherein the Sieurs Herovard and Baincourt , with several Officers of Note were slain , besides by water The Sieurs Gabaret , De la Borde , De Lizine . Captain of Ships Killed . Four Captains more wounded , Four Lieutenants of Ships Killed , Four Lieutenants wounded .

Five hundred Seamen and souldiers wounded and Prisoners , besides what were killed ; The Defendant a Ship of 62 Guns , and 380 men had her Main-mast shot off ; The Pearl and Entrepide , the first a ship of 58 Guns and 350 Men , the other of 50 Guns and 320 Men , both taken by the Dutch. The Dutch loss is very great , for all the Captains of their ships save one are killed or wounded , besides what was lost a shore . I shall not undertake a further Relation , being beyond my Intelligence , but leave the confirmation of what hath been said to the Account expected from the Sieur Binches .