ABSTRACT
In 1668 he joined the navy, and took part in a campaigning season afloat in the West Indies. In 1671 he was made vice-amiral of the west, and took a squadron to the west coast of Africa with DUQUESNE as his second-in-command. At the start of the war against Holland (the British Third Dutch War), he was made C-in-C of the squadron which was to form part of the Anglo-French fleet. The French were present at (some would say, in the vicinity of) three battles, Solebay (1672), Schooneveld and the Texel (1673). None was decisive as a sea-fight, though the Dutch, in preserving their fleet, prevented Louis from over-running the country on land. Estrees was seen as being an incompetent nobleman imposed on skilful, rough sailors, but his courage was not in doubt.
