Page 209
An.1685
A Sea Fight.
then she was sent to Leeward; which deceived us: for we thought still the Light was in the Admirals top, and by that means thought ourselves to wind- ward of them.
In the morning therefore, contrary to our ex- pectation, we found they had got the Weather-gage of us, and were coming upon us with full Sail: so we ran for it, and after a running Fight all day, and having taken a turn almost round the Bay of Panama, we came to an anchor again at the Isle of Pacheque, in the very same place from whence we set out in the morning.
Thus ended this days work, and with it all that we had been projecting for 5 or 6 months: when instead of making our selves Masters of the Spanish Fleet and Treasure, we were glad to escape them; and owed that too, in a great measure, to their want of courage to pursue their advantage.
The 20th day in the morning when we looked out we saw the Spanish Fleet all together 3 leagues to Leeward of us at an anchor. It was but little wind till 10 a clock, and then sprung up a small breeze at South, and the Spanish Fleet went away to Panama. What loss they had I know not; we lost but one Man: and having held a consult, we re- solved to go to the Keys of Quibo or Cobaya, to seek Captain Harris, who was forced away from us in the Fight: that being the place appointed for our Rendezvous upon any such accident. As for Gronet, he said his Men would not suffer him to join us in the Fight: but we were not satisfied with that ex- cuse; so we suffer'd him to go with us to the Isles of Quibo, and there cashier'd our cowardly Campani- on. Some were for taking from him the Ship which we had given him: but at length he was suffered to keep it with his Men, and we sent them away in it to some other place.
CHAP.