judged the farthest way about to be the nearest way home and so having ordered them to return by the back of Ireland and Scotland Leiutenant Admiral Van Trump and vice-Vice-Admiral De Ruyter were set out from the Texel with Eighty Men of War to meet and Convoy a Fleet of Two hundred Sail of Merchant-men coming that way from France which being successfully effected without interruption from the English then in the Downs they kept out at sea expecting their Enemies The English then being commanded by a triumvirate of Generals of equal and joynt authority Blake Dean and Monck on the second of Iune came in sight of the Dutch Fleet and about eleven or twelve of the Clock engaged them It was fought till night with much blood and fierce resolution but the English accustomed to victory having lost Dean one of their Generals plyed them so warmly that they thought it safest to fly to Blanckenburgh General Monck pursuing them at the heels to seven fathom water During the whole fight Vice-Admiral De Ruyter and Rear-Admiral Lawson on the English side having singled themselves out fought singly with such courage and emulation as might be expected from two Commanders of so much Fame and Honour Hardly can there be shown greater struglings for Victory or stiffer ambition for greatness than appeared in the Dutch during all this War who the more they were beaten like balls against a wall the sooner they rebounded About the latter end of Iuly Van Trump and De Ruyter from Zealand and De Witt from Holland set out again to sea and being joyned made up a Fleet of Ninety Sail of Men of War and ten Fireships General Monck with a Fleet far less in number being then abroad the twenty nineth of Iuly towards night came up with them but the Master of his Ship fearing the enemies Fireships and advising him not to venture an Engagement the General in anger and in terms more of a stout Commander than expert Seaman bid him Turn again And so with prodigious courage gave them their last and most fatal defeat in these their Wars with the Commonwealth of England wherein besides the loss of Twenty six Men of War their Admiral Van Trump ended his daies and of all the Flagships of their Fleet only that of De Ruyter had the fortune to come into Port with the Flag standing After the death of Van Trump Opdam was made Admiral in his place a Land-Souldier and Officer of Horse the States probably thinking that by matching the quality of their Admiral with that of the English General Monck they might equal their fortune De Witt Vice-Admiral and De Ruyter Rear-Admiral of Holland But whilst the Dutch are fitting for new action though with somewhat slower procedure than formerly their heat and strength being much cooled and abated there starts up in England a new Statholder Oliver Cromwel General of the Army made Protector of the Common-wealth This New Usurper knowing that his authority being forced violent and against nature needed greater confirmation and support than he could expect from the free and voluntary obedience of an overpowered people and the States general finding themselves much weakened by the past War they both understood one another so well and their several interests that about the latter end of January 1653 4. a peace was concluded betwixt them which at that time stopt the troubled humours but removed not the causes of relapses After this peace De Ruyter transports himself with his Wife Son Engell De Ruyter two daughters and the rest of his family from Flushing where he had formerly lived to Amsterdam as the place of his future residence and more conspicuous stage of Honour but here he had hardly warmed his new House when the States found new business for him in the Old Streights The Pirates of these Seas after their wonted manner so incommoded Navigation in these parts that De Ruyter with a Squadron of Men of War in anno 1654. was sent by the States to suppress and tame their insolency In his Voyage thither he friendly met with his ancient enemy Blake who then was in the Streights with a Fleet of Ships upon the account of the Protector and Commonwealth of England where they saluted each other shook hands and parted in very good terms and De Ruyter continuing his course to Argiers in a short time so humbled the Corsairs of that place Tripoli and Tunnis that he brought them to a peace though of short duration and so with honour and applause returned back again to Holland where shortly after a greater field of honour was designed for him Men that would be great and rich by hook and by crook by potching and fishing where sometime they should not first grow envious and pettish and then angry and quarrelsome with their thriving Neighbours In the year 1657. the Victorious Arms of Swedland had lodged themselves in the very heart of Poland threatning danger if not ruine to that Kingdom The States of Holland fearing lest the prosperous success of that Crown with which their friendship and correspondence was always doubtful and uncertain might keep bread from their butter and much damnifie their traffick in the Baltick Sea perswaded the King of Denmark their ancient Allie who had more reason then force to break with Swedland promising him all assistance to regain from that King what he had wrested and detained from him some years before This instance of the States-General so prevailed with him that he declared War against the King of Swedland and invaded his Kingdomes wherewith the Swede being allarmed was forced to leave Poland and with all his forces return home against the Dane The bad success which the Danes had in these Wars both by Sea and land obliged the States of Holland to put a Fleet to Sea under the command of Admiral De Witt to assist them in the Sound But his Fleet being by the Swedes there routed the Admirals Ship the Bredrow sunk and De Witt himself either killed or drowned a fresh Recruit was dispatched with Admiral Opdam to re-inforce their Fleet Opdam arrived in the Sound but finding himself too weak to encounter the enemy was forced to secure himself and Fleet in Copenhagen then blockt up by the Swedes with a strait Siege both by Sea and land The King of Swedland in the mean time hearing of greater preparations in Holland for a stronger Fleet to be sent under the command of De Ruyter whose conduct and fortune was more apprehended then that of the others ordered his Ministers in England vigorously to prosecute with the Usurper Oliver their instances for assistance This they so accomplished that the intended succours his death preventing were by him recommended to the care of his Son Richard the short Successour to his Usurped authority Richard with the consent of the then pretended Parliament for that end and for the security of the English Trade in the Baltick in the beginning of the year 1659. sent the
of his way and with the loss of two great East-India Ships some other Merchant-men and five Men of War he brought his Fleet into the West Emmes Before his Arrival by a Master of a Ship which he had met at Sea he sent a challenge to Major Holmes to meet him there that seeing they two had been the first Adventurers in the War they might try the success of the publick quarrel as far as their particular prowess and fortune could incline it The Challenge was as nobly accepted by the Major as generously and gallantly sent by De Ruyter and the King of England to encourage the undertaking Knighted Major Holmes and assigned him a stately New Ship then built at Deptford which he purposely called the Defiance but this combat was diverted by other intervening accidents In May 1666. De Ruyter with his Fleet being at Sea His Majesty of Great Britain set out a well appointed and great Fleet under the joint Command of his Highness Prince Rupert and his Grace the Duke of Albemarle renowned for his valour and success in the former War against the Dutch and now advanced to that title for the great and memorable Services performed to the King but a false rumour of the French being at Sea occasioned the dividing of that Fleet for Prince Rupert with the white Squadron being ordered to make for the coast of France to hinder the conjunction of the French and Dutch who before the French came to Sea the Duke of Albemarle was left with about fifty Sail of Men of War to wait on the Dutch The boundless courage of that Duke a dispiser of danger led him to a gallant but rash attempt upon De Ruyter and his Fleet who then riding at anchor off of Dunkirk with a number of Ships far exceeding the English was upon Fryday the first of June so unexpectedly assaulted by them the winde blowing high that many of his Ships were fain to cut their cables in haste to put themselves in order of fighting This was indeed a bloody and terrible engagement which continued with matchless fury and resolution on both sides till Sunday in the Evening when the English Fleet being much torn and the Generals own Ship disabled the disproportion of number and the enemies Fleet being to the Leeward whereby they played their great guns which the English could not being to the weather and the winde high giving great advantage to the Dutch they drew off having lost the evening before the brave Ship the Prince which being stranded was burnt by the Dutch and Sir George Ayscue Commander made Prisoner yet notwithstanding their great loss Prince Rupert upon notice given and the noise of the guns then heard having on Sunday in the Evening rejoyned the Fleet and given the usuall proofs of his great and undaunted valour both Generalls on Munday early in the morning pursued the Dutch who were almost out of sight passed and repassed their Fleet several times But De Ruyter finding himself notwithstanding of the recruits received so weakned that his longer continuance in action might have produced the effects rather of a vain glorious Bravo then of a prudent circumspect General and good Countrey-man having given wonderfull marks of his carriage and conduct made made what haste he could to secure his Fleet This was the first encounter that De Ruyter as Commander in chief had with the English in these Wars the victory of which was equally celebrated in both Nations but whoever had the better it is certain both sustained very great losses The pretensions to victory in this last Fngagement owned mutually by both parties occasioned their hastening out again with all speed to Sea either to make good the old or to gain a new title and so in Iuly both Fleets were abroad The English commanded by Albemarle and the Dutch by De Ruyter And on S. Iames's day about nine in the morning met and fell to blows again De Ruyter with his Fleet for some considerable time made a brisk and a stout resistance but the English jealous of their honour which seemed to suffer by the Dutch arrogating to themselves the Victory in the former Engagement plyed them so fiercely that provident De Ruyter finding his fleet in a bad condition according to his saving principles of making the best of an ill bargain began to give way and was so closely pursued by the English Red and White Squadrons whilest Van Trump couragiously entertained the Blew that De Ruyters own Ship was much shattered and himself in all probability if the English great ships could have got up with him in danger of being taken and two squadrons of his Fleet utterly destroyed In this fight on the English side were only three Captains killed the Resolution burnt and not many above three hundred men killed and wounded On the Dutch side according to the general computation of that time above four thousand men killed three hundred common Sea-men wounded and many Captains slain amongst which Everson Admiral of Zeland Dirickhids Admiral of Friesland the Vice-Admiral of Friesland and Rear-Admiral Van Saen and the number of their fleet so impaired that of above an hundred Ships there returned but eighty into harbour The Dutch who hitherto still boasted of Victory gave now sensible signs of the English having the better by leaving their harbours and rodes undefended so that Sir Robert Holmes shortly after this fight sails into the Ulie and with one fifth-rate Frigate some Ketches and fireships there burnt an hundred and sixty sail of Dutch Vessels But neither was this nor the last blow so fatall as to keep the Dutch from Sea for about the end of August Admiral De Ruyter appears again with a stronger fleet then before stretching along the back of the Goodwin sands for the French-coast with designe to have joyned the Duke of Beaufort who with about forty sail of French ships lay at Rochel ready to come to their assistance The English fleet having advice made after them with such diligence that they were forced to stand in for Bulloign-road and there very narrowly escaped a new Engagement by reason of the weather which growing extremely tempestuous constrained the English to bear away for S. Hellens Bay the place of rendevouz and the most proper station to hinder the conjunction of the French and Dutch In the mean while the Ruby a French-ship of fifty four guns commanded by Monsieur le Roche separated by foul weather from the rest of the fleet mistaking the enemies white-flag for their own fell in amongst the English and after some stout resistance was taken and the Captain made Prisoner but in complement to his valour was afterward dismissed And now De Ruyter falling sick was forced to return to Amsterdam leaving the care and charge of the Dutch fleet to Van Ness But the States finding the season far spent and the weather stormy and tempestuous commanded their fleet home After that the Dutch Fleet was returned into
in her petticoat through smoke and flames got into the upper Room first threw the childe out of the window into a sheet held by the father and maid to receive him and afterward jump't out her self saving from that little Troy her young Aeneas So cross and unlucky are many times the beginnings of virtuous Men and low the basis of Fames Pyramides misery being commonly the first step to happiness and a gloomy morning the portal of a fair day Having thus happily avoided the Fury of this cruel Element though stript of all naked as truth it self the disconsolate Father in this so great uncertainty finding no other hopes of relief but the Charity of the Merciful betook himself with his wretched Family to Bergen ap Zome the next Town of Note where arriving early in the morning he presented to his compassionate Countreymen a lamentable spectacle of his new disaster The commendable care of that Countrey in providing for the Necessities of the indigent either by maintaining of the infirm and impotent or by imploying the stronger and those that are able to work afforded means for the poor man to subsist and feed his family untill his young son being grown up to the state of a boy able to do somewhat for himself was placed in the rope-ground of the Heer Lampson in Flushing a considerable Merchant who had a Manufactory of Ropes there The poor childe complying with the condition which he could not alter with several other boys of his own rank and age dilligently followed his business in spinning of rope-yarn and other drudgeries of that vocation to the content of his Overseers until some time after the Heer Lampson himself coming into the rope-ground and eying the lad his fancy suggested to him observing the features and carriage of the boy the unsuitableness of that trade to the genius of the lad and finding upon examination the forwardness of his wit and confident readiness in his answers and his willingness to leave that course and to serve him in some other capacity he released him from that slavery and sent him to school where in a short time he gave such pregnant proofs of his parts and industry that his Master finding his proficiency ripe for employment prudently at first intrusted him with the charge of keeping of the accounts of his family-expences that so he might the better have a tryal of the youths abilities and prevent the errours into which higher advancement and distance of place often misleads unexperienced beginners imitating herein the example of Falconers who use first to call their hawks to their fists with a guard before they venture them at large to the lure In this office he carried himself with so great fidelity and discretion and thereby gained so great esteem from his Master that he advanced him to be his book-keeper and to the management of his Merchant-affairs wherein being likewise much satisfied with his skill and diligence he pitched upon him as a person every way qualified for a Factor in his trade in Ireland which consisted in butter herrings tallow and hides and accordingly sent him to Dublin There he lived seven years under the inspection of Mr Cremor Mr Vanhorn Mr Wiborn and some others of his Masters Correspondents during which space besides his attaining of the English Tongue very necessary to him who was afterward to treat so often with the English in their own Language he gave so great proofs of his dexterity in the conduct of affairs of Trading and of his faithfulness to his trust and thereby so much content to his Master and Correspondents that by them he was sent into the Streights to negotiate as Supercargo of their Concerns there And whilst in his several Voyages from Port to Port in those parts he successfully improved his traffick to the profit both of his Master and himself being a natural enemy to idleness and an Unactive life and totally averse from the lazy and bruitish revellings of the most part of Seamen he had leisure to rub up those few impressions and hints of the Mathematicks and particularly Navigation which he had learned when a boy wherein by the ripeness of his wit his constant pains and study and the assistance of some Artists in a short time he made such laudable progress that he not only became able to conduct any Ship himself but obtained a great Name amongst Navigators And having afterward made several Voyages into the Streights and Barbary upon the account of the Heer Lampson his Master and Benefactor with constant good fortune and applause he married a Widow and setled himself in Flushing in Zealand The many good services which he had performed to his Master and the reputation gained in his Sea-expeditions began to plain the way to his preferment In the year 1650. the dayly dammages received from the Corsairs of Argiers the enemies of the Hollanders being so sensible that thereby the Mediterranean Trade of great advantage to that Nation was much obstructed the States for the security of their Merchants resolved to send Convoys with their Ships the Heer Lampson laying hold of this opportunity to serve his Countrey and at the same time to show his love and gratitude to his friend by the cheapest and yet most noble way of reward so effectually recommended Mr De Ruyter to the States General that he obtained for him a Commission to be Captain of a Man of War appointed by them as a Convoy for their Merchant-men in the Streights those fatal Narrow Seas the Hercules-pillars of his life and honour where he began and ended his Sea-preferment and gave the first and last proofs of his Conduct and Valour In this expedition he had the Occasion to lay the foundation of his future greatness first by rendring himself remarkable in his Command and next in his Estate the two usual handmaids of rising fortunes for as by his Valour and Conduct in many successful Engagements with these Pirates he procured the one so by his lawful and honest endeavours he missed not of the other Insomuch that his Name being grown publick in Holland by the dayly characters of those who had been obliged by his care and good offices the States began to think him worthy of some higher rank The Occasion was not long wanting to his more prosperous fortune For in anno 1652. the equal success of the two Neighbouring Common-wealths of England then too unhappily established and the States of the Vnited Netherlands more deeply rooted began to advance to the incompatible heighth of Superiority which was as much as Supremacy their pretensions on the Seas And although their claims were as different as that of an old possessor from a new intruder yet the younger Rival the Hollanders thinking their power not inferiour to the other the English who upon the account of long and uninterrupted possession demanded of them the usual submissions resolved to dispute the right by force of Arms and so broke forth a War which for the
sharp conflict with Spragg and Ossory The day began to close before the shot on either side betwixt the Prince and De Ruyter began to do execution but at length the English must confess that to their great wonder they first learned here that the Dutch powder was stronger and the guns longer than their own So Prince Rupert having shifted himself from the Royal Charles into the Old Soverain and Sir Edward Spragg rejoyned the Fleet they fought at distance most part of the night and by break of day both Fleets being out of sight of each other the Prince with the loss of many men and disabled ships made for the Thames and De Ruyter with little loss having had the advantage of the winde and a distant fight stood back for his old station on the Coast of Zeland De Ruyter in this action gave evident proof that he knew when it was time to pursue as well as retreat and that he never turned his back but with intent to shew his face It was now the twentieth of July before the English and French were in condition again to visit the Dutch Coasts and then having discovered De Ruyter with his Fleet eight leagues off of the Coast of Zealand and in posture of Fighting the Royall Navy expected an Engagement but wise De Ruyter who always fought after his own manner knew well the importance of so great a triall and that the affairs of his Countrey so embarrassed on all hands did not require the hazarding of the interest and honour of his Masters or of himself without some probable hopes of saving of both stood in nearer the shoar and bore away along the Coast declining all engagement untill the one and twentieth of August following On the twentieth of August Prince Rupert being informed that the Dutch Fleet were about Goree made thither and towards the evening discovered them but being then late thought best not to attacque them that night In the mean time De Ruyter according to his ordinary conduct improving the benefit of the darkness stood in close to the shoar and bearing up before next morning gained the winde of the English and by seven of the Clock bore down upon them freshly The Prince upon this changing his course stood away S. W. and the French who had the Van engaged Banckert the Prince in the middle De Ruyter and Sir Edward Spragg in the rear after the old manner Van Trump This Fight was so managed between the English and Dutch as if both parties being by some secret instinct acquainted that this was to be the last resolved to prove their utmost and last effects of fortitude and conduct among the French Capt. Martel behaved himself bravely Banckert sent off a few ships to wait the French motion and with the rest of his squadron came in to the assistance of De Ruyter against the Prince who for some time valiantly exchanged their broadsides and behaved themselves with equal courage and success Sir Edward Spragg and Van Trump the two declared Competitiours and Rivals for honour with their squadrons in the mean time persisted in action with such determinate resolution that the Dutch avow the like never to have been seen their own two ships having without touching of a sail strangely endured the fury of three full hours uncessant battery But Sir Edward Spraggs Ship the Prince having lost her masts and being so fearfully torn as to be unfit for more service with his flag displayed in his boat he shifted aboard off the St. George and finding her likewise disabled as he was leaving of her to get into the Royall Charles a cruel shot funk his boat and left him helpless in the Ocean whose power being greater then that of Van Trump by his death chill'd that heat of courage which Trump could never have cooled above water His death was by all even the Dutch themselves bewailed who acknowledged him to have been a brave man and valiant Souldier His Ship couragiously defended by the stout Earl of Ossory notwithstanding all the attempts that Van Trump made to be Master of her was safely towed off by the Hampshire Fregat The Prince and de Ruyter at this time finding themselves at too great distance from the squadrons so hotly engaged who stood both in need of assistance as by mutual consent tacked both and in friendly manner without firing stood towards their respective friends but de Ruyter having joyned Van Trump who was still engaged with the blew before the Prince could could come in fell upon the blew with renewed fury intending to have totally out off that squadron from the rest of the English Fleet but at length the Prince coming in time broke in amongst the Dutch with unanswerable force and Captain Legg with his fireships put them in great disorder and confusion It was believed by all that if the French had made their best use of that winde de Ruyter and his Fleet could not so fairly as they did by the favour of the night have taken their leave of this and all other publick action with the English during this War The losses in this last Fight were great on both sides many brave Commanders and Vast number of men killed and wounded but both so positively pretending to victory it is hard to determine who had the better yet the Dutch by Sir Edward Spraggs death thinking their title good made the whole Countrey so merry with the ringing noise of Victory that the States changed the following day of Humiliation into thanksgiving and in stead of fasting drunk and sung Psalms The singular prudence and conduct of Admiral de Ruyter in the several passages of this War rendred him so useful to his Countrey of whose tottering and decaying state he seemed the Atlas and guardian and so considerable to his enemies who by experience found it not easy to triumph-over him that notwithstanding the powerful efforts made for that end the success of affairs remained so little inclined to either side that the one had no reason to despair nor the other to scorn the prossers of accommodation made way for a Treaty of peace with England and the States of Holland catching their opportunity when the vigorous intercession of the Crown and Ministers of Spain concurred so pat with the publick good offices of their friends in England they so effectually pursued the necessary and advantagious concern of peace with that kingdom that by the frequent sollicitations and busy importunities of one and other the King of Great Britain did at length condescend to a peace with the Dutch which was concluded at Westminster the Ninth of February 1674. to the unspeakable joy of the States and perpetual renown of de Ruyter in such a pinching nick of time that the Dutch had good reason to be thankfull for so seasonable an accomodation Janus Temple being thus half shut and the States General having now but one way to look resolved to bend all their forces against the
French both by Sea and land and knowing that the French would not adventure to meet them at Sea being disjoyned from the English judged it most convenient to molest their navigation annoy their Coasts and destroy as much as conveniently could be done their Countrey and Plantations In Order hereunto they sent out a great Fleet of sixty six men of War besides victuallars tenders and fireships under the Command of Lieutenant Admirall De Ruyter and Van Trump with a flying Army of Land-forces Commanded by Count William Van Horn. This Fleet joyned at their rendevous on the fourteenth of May 1674. set sail from the Weelings and having by a Squadron of fifteen men of War allarmed all the Coast of Calais and Bulloigne they passed along the English shoar and Isle of Wight and come to anchor in Tourbay Here after a great Councill of War they divided the Fleet into two Squadrons appointing one and twenty fail of Men of War and fourty eight other Ships with several Companies of Land-souldiers under the Command of Old De Ruyter Admiral Evertse of Zealand Vice-Admiral and young Engell de Ruyter Son of the other Rear-Admiral for the Western French Islands and Van Trump and the Count Horn with the rest of the fleet and Land-forces for the Coast of France The designe so laid was accordingly put in execution for De Ruyter with his fleet on the 29. of May made sail to the Westward and ten days after Van Trump for the coast of France de Ruyter continuing his course with fair windes on the ninth of Iuly came in sight of the Isle of Martenique and the tenth arrived in the Bay called Cusack The French being advertised of their coming appeared in readiness marching towards the shoar and the Dutch with some small ships that sailed near the land told them their errand by firing smartly against them from aboard this salute forced the French a little to retreat and burn some houses which they thought stood in their way and favoured the Enemy In the afternoon a Council of War being held a descent was concluded on and de Ruyter having given the signe of landing the land-forces divided into 3. squadrons under the Command of Col. Vytenhove with 20 men to throw granadoes for each Squadron immediatly embarked in their boats and shalloops and with great courage notwithstanding the French violent firing on them from their ships which they had ashoar and out of their woods landed and made themselves Masters of a Bank which the French had cast up to prevent their landing and forced the Enemy to retire to their Fort De Ruyter perceiving the Engagement hot sent off 1500. seamen to reinforce his party but the French firing furiously from behinde their ships and battery which they had raised flanking the Dutch who stood naked to their shot and whose Canon did them little service towards the Evening beat them off again to their ships with the loss of many men and several brave Officers and so freed the Island at this time from further danger De Ruyter after much loss finding the attempt fruitless left four ships to cruise thereabouts and wait the coming of some Victuallers expected from Holland and next day sailed to Dominico there to take in fresh water which being done passing by Mevis and the Barmoodoes and having mutually received and rendered civilities with the English there made sail for Holland and about latter end of September with little success in this expedition arrived safely at home and Trump and Van-Horn having by several descents on Bell-Isle and other parts of that coast of France allarmed and vexed the French and plundered the country and the fleet having after conducted and brought back from Spain the Count Van Horn who went to negotiate at Madrid with 18 sail of the fleet the rest being otherways imployed in the latter end of November following returned likewise to the Texell Now the difficulty of the reducing Messina so strongly protected by the French requiring much of the care and Forces of Spain to be employed in Sicily sensibly weakened the Confederates of the States of Holland in Flanders where the danger lay at their doors The States therefore being sollicited by the Ministers of Spain that they might either give a necessary diversion to the French who in good earnest espoused the quarrel and endeavoured the assistance of the Messinesses and thereby hinder the progresse nearer home or that they might effectually aid the Spaniards to the intire subduing of these Revolters and so bring over to Flanders the Spanish Forces and other instruments of war employed in these parts In the beginning of 1675. resolved to dispatch their successeful Admiral De Ruyter with a considerable fleet of Men of war into the Streights to joyn the Prince Montesarchio Generall of the Spanish Armada for the effecting of that designe accordingly about the latter end of August de Ruyter with a fleet of 25. sail wyed from Schonvelt and having stopt at Cadiz and other places by the way in December following joyned Montesarchio at Palermo with part of his Fleet and after that he had stayed some time for those of his Ships which then were returned to Naples from Argiers under the Command of Vice-Admiral de Haen and received them at the place of Rendevouz They sailed all together from Palermo to Melazzo where de Ruyter having had conference with the Duke of Ferrandina the Spanish Viceroy of Sicily It was resolved that the Dutch and Spanish Fleet by Sea and the Vice-roy by Land should attacque and molest Messina before that any further succours did arrive there In order to that de Ruyter being informed of a Fleet of Ships laden with provisions and necessaries for the besieged who then were in great straits by want and not like long to subsist without relief being at sea under the Convoy of a squadron of Men of War commanded by the Sieur de Quesny made towards the fare of Messina to intercept and hinder their passage and whilest the Prince Montesarchio left with some ships to guard the mouth of the fare was separated from the rest of the Fleet on the 29th of January 1675. de Ruyter encountred the French off of Lipari with a fleet not much odd in number to his own having both between twenty and thirty sail of Men of War a piece besides galleys fireships and other small craft and with much courage and bravery engaged them The French received him with no less resolution so that there began a very brisk dispute betwixt them which continued all that day and the next with considerable damage to their Ships and rigging but no great losse of men the fight having been at some distance In this engagement the French lost one man of War and two fireships and the Dutch one Fregat which being disabled in the engagement as the Galleys were towing of her off for Palermo sunk but the men were saved The day following de Ruyter being advised that the