HAVING this Opportunity , I could not forbear giving you this Brief Account of a Signal Victory which Providence gave us over Five Sail of Pyrates . The full Relation would take up more Time , and more Paper ( which is a scarce Commodity with us ) than I can spare at present ; but however , I doubt not but that you will take this Hasty Relation in good part .

Upon the last day of October , 1686. being upon a Sunday Morning , we happen'd to meet with Five Sail of Ships ( at a Place called St. Jago , where we usually touch to take in Fresh Water , and Fresh Provisions ) who came up to us at first with French Colours , but they were soon changed into Spanish Colours , and one of them hoisted up the Bloody Flag , which immediatly alarmed Us , and made Us put our selves into a Condition of Receiving them , and they as immediatly set upon Us ; We lost all our Boats , and were forced to throw Three Thousand weight of Bread over-board , and several other things , that we might have Room enough to Play our Great Guns .

For Five hours space we had a very hot and sharp Engagement : Their Admiral and Vice-Admiral intended to have Boarded Us upon our Sides , and another upon our Stern ; yet we saw none bold enough to dare to take possession ; for at the same time we had the luck to give them our Broad-sides , and likewise our Small-shot from our Forecastle , Poop , Quarters and Decks , which we showred on them like Hail ; till at last the Villains were forced to march off with the loss of their Boult-sprit , Fore-mast and Mizen yard from those Three Ships which attempted to have Boarded Us. We suppose their Aim was at the Money which we had in the Ship , which was Eighty two thousand Pounds , besides the Cargoe ; and if they had taken Us , We should have been worth to them Two hundred thousand Pounds , besides the Ship : We had One hundred and twenty Souldiers on Board of Us , which did Us a great deal of good Service . We had but one Souldier killed , and one Sea-man lost his Arm , by name Francis Stephens ( a Water-man that used to Ply at Puddle-dock Stairs , ) and we had about seven more wounded ; but we are certain that they have lost several of their Men , besides a great deal of damage done to their Shipping ; for at last they were forced to fall a Stern to make good the damage they had received from Us , which questionless was very considerable ; They were Ships of Burthen , and could not have less than between Twenty and Thirty Guns a-piece , and a great many Men on Board , of which they carried but few away . If I had had leisure , I should have given you a Fuller and more Particular Account : but this is in Substance the truth of the Action , in which I was engaged , who am