On the 23d in the Afternoon, the Owners came down from Amsterdam, and the next Day examin’d the Prisoners aboard Us and the Batchelor, about taking the said Ship and other Prizes, having Notice of our going over for England, and that a Convoy was appointed to come for us.
We got all the Men off Shoar, who had been very troublesome to the Owners at Amsterdam, and every thing in Readiness for Sailing. On the 31st Mr. Hollidge came aboard (the rest of the Owners being gone over for England) and took Account of what Plate, Gold, Pearl, &c. was in the Ship. The same being done aboard the Dutchess, he likewise took a List of our Men to get Protections for them, from being impress’d after our Arrival in the River of Thames. The next Day he went to the Texel to discharge the Custom due from our Ships, and on the 5th in the Morning he took his Leave of us.
On the 19th in the Afternoon, we had News of our Convoys lying without the Texel, which was very acceptable to the Crews of each Ship, who were in the utmost Uneasiness at our long Stay, being just at Home, so that we had much ado to keep the Companies aboard till now. We got every thing in Readiness, in order for falling down to them.
On the 20th, about 5 in the Afternoon, we got down to the Texel, where we found our Convoy at Anchor, being the Essex, Canterbury, Medway, and Dunwich Men of War.
On the 22d in the Morning, the Wind being at N. E. we weigh’d from the Texel, and by 10 of the Clock got clear of the Channel. In the Afternoon the Commodore took the Batchelor in Towe, and next Morning the Wind being against us, we bore away again for the Harbour, as did likewise 4 Dutch Men of War that came out with us, bound for London; after seeing us safe in, he stood off to the Northward with the Canterbury and Medway, but came in the next Morning.
On the 25th our Officers met, where consulting that our 3 Ships wanted several Necessaries to keep the Sea, in case we should meet with bad Weather, we requested Captain Roffey our Commodore, that he would please to stay, should the Wind be fair, till such Time as we could be provided with the said Necessaries from Amsterdam, which was granted.
On the 13th the Wind continuing at S. E. by S. and S. E. at Break of Day we weigh’d, as did likewise 4 Dutch Men of War.
On the 1st of October, about 11 of the Clock we came to an Anchor in the Downs, where several of our Owners came aboard, and after they had visited every Ship, went a-shoar with some Prisoners to examine ’em about our Capture, &c.
At 3 this Morning the Essex made a Signal to unmoar, and betwixt 9 and 10 weigh’d, he being order’d up to the Buoy in the Noar, and we to make the best of our Way to the Hope.
Octob. 14. This Day at 11 of the Clock, we and our Consort and Prize got up to Eriff [Erith], where we came to an Anchor, which ends our long and fatiguing Voyage.