Battle in the Bay of Barbados

This pen drawing of a battle between a fleet led by Michiel de Ruyter and the English in the bay of Barbados is taken from the diary of Reynoud Borremans, who was in this fleet on the ship Utrecht in 1664-1665. The battle pictured took place on 30 April 1665. The Dutch fleet initially inflicted great damage on the English fort and ships, but withdrew after an hour and a half to avoid damage to their own ships, and the possible loss of the cargo captured earlier in Africa.

Legend: “1. Twe water castelen. 2 een casteel op een bergh gelegen. 3. Een huys daer mede van geschooten wiert. 4. Een stedeken inde boght vande baihe gelegen. 5. Tusgen de 30 a 40 koopvaerders Engelsche. 6 Een engelsche convooier. 7. den Vice Admirael. De Ruyter. 8. Den vice Admirael van Meppell.”