Possibly the capture of Tobago, 19 [OS]/29 December 1672. It may represent a landing made in Great Courland Bay. It depicts a broadside view of an English fourth-rate (maybe the ‘St David’, Capt Poole) anchored bow and stern firing on a Dutch fort beyond. On the right is a smaller fort attacked by a sixth-rate and several boats and shallops.

Tobago was colonized by the Dutch. The English arrived off the island with the ‘St David’, Captain William Poole, and seven small vessels transporting troops under Sir Tobias Bridges. At the second attempt, the troops were successfully landed and while they were approaching the forts, the ‘St David’ anchored near the forts and sustained their fire all the afternoon of 19-29 December. The Dutch governor surrendered on 21/31 December and the settlement was burnt and destroyed.

This is a sketch for a painting of doubtful date. From an inscription on the back of a drawing of Beach’s action in the Ingram Collection (PAJ2430), it appears that Van de Velde was doing some work for Sir William Poole in 1676.