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, of the presence on the coast of a Spanish fleet of twenty-four sail; and capturing two French merchant vessels, which he liberated upon receiving from them pledge that they would return home direct instead of proceeding to Lisbon, their port of destination.

In the course of a chase, Monson, in the Swiftsure, with the Dreadnought in company, was led into Cezimbra, the scene of his exploits earlier in the year. He exchanged shots with the fort, which protected the chase, and while in the roadstead, captured a caravel, which came in unsuspectingly, and which, volunteering information concerning the state of affairs at Lisbon, was allowed to depart again. But he could hear nothing of the Dutch squadron.

Proceeding off Lisbon, which was the appointed rendezvous, he sighted a light on the night of September 26th, and believing it to come from some richly laden vessel bound for the Tagus, chased it. He had with him at the moment, besides his flagship, only the Adventure and the Lion's Whelp. To his astonishment he presently found himself in the midst of the Spanish fleet. The enemy recognised the Adventure, and opened fire on her, wounding some of her men; but had darkness lasted a few hour's longer, the English would have got away without much fighting. Daylight, however, discovered the Swiftsure, Adventure, and Lion's Whelp only a short distance ahead of the Spanish fleet, and the latter gave chase.

Three of the Spaniards, being better sailers than the rest, soon gained upon the English, and threatened the Lion's Whelp; but Monson lay to to await the three, and after a time had the satisfaction of seeing them recalled by their admiral, who stood in with the shore.