Nothing remarkable happen’d till the 1st of May, only I continued very ill, as my Ship did leaky, and sometimes we Sailing from the Cape towards Europe. had Thunder, Lightning, Rain, and Squalls of Wind. Yesterday Afternoon we had sight of the Island St. Hellena, bearing N. W. by N. about 6 Leagues, lying in S. Lat. 16.
On the 7th we made the Island of Ascension, S. Lat. 8. 2. Longit. W. from London 13. 20.
On the 14th at Noon we found we had just cross’d the Equator, being the 8th time we had done so in our Course round the World. There was a strong Current setting to the Northward, after the rate of about 1 Mile an Hour, Longit. W. from London. 21. 11. So that we have run much continually to the Westward, over and above the Circumference of the Globe.
The 17th in Lat. 3. 13. we found the Current still continuing to set to the N.W. 20 Miles in 24 Hours. The Dutch Commadore was very civil to us, and because our Prize sailed heavy, he allow’d her to keep a-head in the Night, which he did not to any other Ship. We and the Dutchess often tow’d her in the Day, to keep her up with the Fleet.
June 7. In the Lat. of 24°. 55´´. The 3 Admirals hall’d down their Flags, and hoisted Pennants at their Main topmast Heads, to appear more like Ships of War, every Dutch Ship doing the same. Now we draw near home, they scrape and clean their Ships, bending new Sails, so that they look as if newly come out of Holland.
June 13. Yesterday Afternoon the Flag made a Signal for all the Dutch Commanders to go aboard with their Latitude and Longitude. We took the Batchelor in towe this Morning, having a fine moderate Gale at E. by N. with smooth pleasant Weather.
June 14. We cast the Batchelor off about 5 Yesterday Afternoon, I being unwilling to run too far a head with her, now we are got so far to the Northward, where we may expect not only the Danger of the Enemy, but also veerable Winds and thick Weather, by which means she may loose the Fleet. I advis’d Capt. Courtney the same in the Evening by a Letter. This Morning we rummaged our Hold, and found very little new Damage amongst the Bails, but all in general much decay’d by lying so long in ordinary Package.
June 15. The Admiral made a Signal this Morning for all the English Commanders, and some of the Dutch Skippers to come aboard him, where we found an excellent Entertainment, and the good Humour of the Dutch Admiral soon made all the Company understand each other without a Linguist, tho’ we had much ado to get one at first Meeting. We parted before the Sun set, and had a fine Day.
June 28. Being got into the Latitude of 51 N. we had thick foggy Weather, so that the Flag fired two Guns every half hour; each Ship answer’d with one. This continu’d several Days, which consumed a great deal of Powder, but by the Noise of the Guns it was easy to keep Company, tho’ sometimes so thick for several Hours, that we could not see three Ships Lengths.
July 14. This Morning we fancied we saw Land, and some of the Dutch Ships made the concerted Signal, but none was positive, having sounded, and found no Ground with above 100 Fathom of Line.