Chapter IX: French and Dutch in the Mediterranean. A. D. 1676

Revolt of Messina and Sicily; Louis XIV Sends Duquesne with a
Fleet to Sustain the Insurgents; Sketch of Duquesne; England
Makes Peace with Holland; Duquesne Repulses the Spanish Fleet
and Captures the Town of Agosta; Learns of De Ruyter’s Presence
in the Mediterranean; Meeting of the Hostile Fleets, Jan. 16,
1676; Splendid Manœuvres; The Advantage with the French; They
Meet Again, in Spring, Near Syracuse; Sharp and Terrible Firing;
De Ruyter Mortally Wounded; The Dutch Seek Shelter in Syracuse
Harbor; The Sicilian and French Fleets Encounter the Dutch and
Spanish Fleets Again, in May; Destruction of the Latter; Honors
to the Remains of De Ruyter; Recompensing Duquesne; His
Protestantism Distasteful to Louis XIV; Humiliates Genoa; Edict
of Nantes; His Death and Private Burial; Subsequent Honors to his
Memory. I-146