A Whydah, and learned that the Pyrates had plundered and ransomed 11 Sail of Ships, and left the Place two Days before, on the Report of our following them.
19.
W. Thence, and followed the Pursuit, coming before the Isle of Princes the 29th, and found the Portuguese Strangers to the News.
Feb. 1.
A. The Mouth of the River Gabone, a snug Harbor we thought, for their Reception, the Navigation being difficult; but finding by our Boats we had missed them, left it the 3d, and continued our Search to Cape Lopez.
Made the Cape, and soon after discovered the three Pyrate Ships at Anchor in that Bay. One of them upon the Heel, righted at sight of us, slipped her Cable and chased, bending some of her Sails as she came out, by which we judged the Rashness of our Enemy, who fell a Prize to us before Night.
10.
Recovered the Cape again, and found the Prize’s Consorts (according to expectation) very easy in the Bay, and stayed so long that we doubted whether they would stir for us; but at length, as their Eyes cleared in our nearer Advance, all mad and frightned, they cut their Cable, set their Sails, up went the black Flag, and down their Courage; they continued a running Fight, while only our chace Guns could play upon them, and struck presently when our Broadside reached, without the least Damage done to us.
Feb. 12.
A. Cape Lopez Bay, seizing there the third Pyrate Ship, that had been deserted for a better Escape or Defence in the other.