Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/300

 one of them to have a Pendant flying, and having heard their Morning-Gun before, they immediately upected them to be Roberts the Pyrate, his conort, and a French Ship, they knew had been lately carried out of Whydah Road.

The King’s Ship was obliged to hawl off N. W. and W. N. W. to avoid a Sand, called, the French Man’s Bank, the Wind then at S. S. E. and found in half an Hour’s time, one of the three had got under Sail from the Careen, and was bending her Sails, in a Chace towards them. To encourage this Rahnes and Precipitancy, they kept away before the Wind, (as though afraid,) but with their Tacks on Board, their Main-Yard braced, and making, at the ame Time, very bad Steerage.

About half an Hour after Ten, in the Morning, the Pyrate Ship came within Gun-hot, and fired four Chace Guns, hoited a black Flag at the Mizen-Peek, and got their Sprit-ail Yard under their Bowprit, for boarding. In half an Hour more, approaching till nigher, they Starboarded their Helm, and gave her a Broadide, the Pyrate bringing to, and returning the ame.

After this, the Deponents ay, their Fire grew lack for ome Time, becaue the Pyrate was hot o far a Head on the Weather-Bow, that few of their Guns could Point to her; yet in this Interval their black Flag was either Shot away, or hawled down a little Space, and hoited again.

At length, by their ill Steerage, and Favour of the Wind, they came near, a econd Time; and about Two in the Afternoon hot away their Main-topmat.

The Colours they fought under, beides a black Flag, were a red Englih Enign, a King’s Jack, and a Dutch Pendant, which they truck at, or about, Three in the Afternoon, and called for Quarters;