Indian Antiquary Vol 48

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 208

204
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ NOVEMBER, 1919
weathermost of the Roed when we had sigt of five ships lying by under their seile, waiting our coming, as we found afterwards, for they no sooner espied us but gave chase, crowding all the sail they could possible make after us. We were upon imag[in]eing the worst, and like wise made sail for the gaining time to put ourselves in the best posture we could for defence, which we did by staving down and heaving overboard everything we imagined might be the least hindrance to us. We lined our Quarters with our men's bedding, slung our yerds. and discributed all our small arms to the shouldiers, sending some in our tops. We then visited each several ports [ post] to see all things fitted and contrived for our utmost advantage, omitting nothing we could imagine in the least requisite op so pressing an occasion, and now, perceiving they gained on us apace and that we had already done all that men in our condition could possibly do both for defending ourselves and offending the enemy, our Captain, by the advice and consent of us all, commarded our small seiles to be handed, and our maine Baile and mizell (sic) to be furled, putting the ship right afore the wind (concluding it absolutely the best manner so to engage) and then exhorting our men to be of good courage, telling them what an eternall credit wee should gaine to ourselves and nation by baffling the designs and attempts of soe many and such subtile enemys and on the contrary what a miserable life would be the consequence of falling into the hands of such desperate, pyraticall villains. With such like exhortation all were dismissed to their severall quarters.
"And by this time beirg about 10 in the morning two of the nimblest were come up with us, haveing (as the rest had) French colours. The headmost fireing three or four shott at us and finding wee slighted him, changed bis French to bloody colours, 53 and then stretobing to windward, they lay peckeing at us whilest biscompanion was doing the same asterne, whom our chase gunns, from the great cabbin, soon brought upon the cairne It careen), which wee had scarce done, when the other three ships had got our length (having changed their French to bloody colours) fireing on us amsine. These were ships of burthen and could not bave lesse than between 20 and 30 gunns each and full of men. The Admirall and Vice-Admire 11 54 on the larboard side designing to lay us on board, which the frmer did on our quarter, but we plyed him so warmly with our smell shott, which we showered on him like haile from our tops, poop and other poste, that wee heard indeed a voice crying to us in the French tongue to surrender, but say ( 1 saw) none bold enough to try for possession, but were glad to gett cleare of us againe, and falling asterne sunk and cutt away all our boats, which he paid for by the losse of his bolteplite [bowsprit) and abundance of his mon. His hull at the same time not being impenitrable to our great shott wee plaid in and thro him.' The Vice-Admirall on the bowe had a shortt entertainment and noe better successe, for we spoake some [? soe) much terrour to him from our forecastle and other quarters (he haveing likewise our frequent cheers and hurahs) bore away in affright, and by that means had the luck to receive both our Broadsides, which carried away his foreyards and mizin masts, whileet our stern chase (for now we had got our gunroome ganns out) soe gave the rest asterne that after five hours sharpe ingagement they began to beare away to amend and repaier the damage received from us.
" Which questionless was very considerable, there men, at first comeing up, being bold and daring, lay open to our small shott which continued fireing for three hours together without . ' In token that they would give no quarter.
# Theme high titles were in common use even by merchant shipe (will armed for defence) when throo or more were sailing in company, as they often did for mutual protection.