The twenty-fifth of _August_ we lay a try with main course, and mizen our Drift _North_ 9 Leagues, the wind at _South west_, a fresh Gale. One of our men taking our main Top-sail, cryed out a Sail, a Sail. In a quarter of an hour by the help of my Prospective, I could discern her to be an Enemy of considerable force, about some forty four pieces of Ordinance. She made towards us with all the speed she could, and we to shorted our way, bore up to her with all the Sail we could make, so that we fetch’t up one the other quickly although we had but thirty six Guns, eight less than she carry’d, and having fewer men withal we feared her not, but ran up board and board with her before we fir’d a Gun, and then we poured in a whole broad-side into her, whilst we pepper’d them above with whole Vollies of small shot: they returned us the like kindness, which kill’d us four outright besides what were wounded. Our Captain behav’d himself very manfully, and so bestirr’d himself in the fight, shewing so clear a courage as would have animated a very Coward to fight, as for my own part the meer observation of his magnanimous behaviour, infus’d into me more valour than I thought my self capable to contain, or able to make use of: my Land-water Soldiers, the Scrivener and his two Companions, by the Captains example, and my encouraging, look’d Death as boldly, and as daringly in the face, as if they had intended to look him out of countenance, though at first no shot, either great or small went whistling by them but what made them dap their heads, as if that would secure them; that Bullet which injures man never tattles in his ear the ensuing danger; that Bullet that whistles in the Air, proclames your crown as safe from cracking, as is the Goose after she hath past through the Barn door stooping lest her lofty head should knock the top thereof.
There was not any in the Ship exempted from Service, every man as he was Quartered not budging, but doing the utmost he could to offend his Enemy; a brave young stout fellow (whom I shall never forget) standing by me and my _Bantam_ Comrades, a shot came and took away his legg with that fury, that it rebounded from the side; falling, he seemed not a wit daunted, but called out aloud, Courage Captain, I warrant you Victory, if you will but send down this Foot and Legg of mine to the Gunner, and let him send it to them instead of shot, and I shall laugh to see here, how it will kick the Arses of those insolent Rogues; _Gregory_ standing by and seeing what had past, though something scar’d, yet would not discover any fright, and to hide it the better, commended the brave resolution of the man, and as he was laughing at the odness of his conceit (poor Fellow) a shot came and took away one side of his face, so dyed immediately, now it may be said, _he could laugh at him but with half a mouth_. This last unhappy Bout so scared the little valor which was in the Scrivener, that he instantly quitted his station, and disorder’d more men in his way to his supposed safety, the Hold, than twenty Troopers could have done in the midst of a Foot-company, a little afterwards the Drugster attempted to do the like, some of the men in the waste, seeing him upon his flight (just as I was moving on the same design) cried out, knock him down, knock down that cowardly fellow with a handspike, thinking they had meant me, being on the motion, I endeavour’d to prove the contrary by giving him a sore pelt over the noddle with my Musquet which laid him a sleep on the Deck; was highly commended by our Captain for so doing, telling me that two such fellows among a thousand men, nay an Army of ten times the number, might by their fear occasion their total overthrow.