tation and steer
for the West Indies; and, in order thereto, stood in to make the land
for the taking of their departure; and thereby they fell in unexpectedly
with a fleet of forty-two sail of Portuguese ships off the bay of Los
Todos Santos, with all their lading in, for Lisbon, several of them of
good force, who lay-to waiting for two men-of-war of seventy guns each,
their convoy. However, Roberts thought it should go hard with him, but
he would make up his market among them, and thereupon mixed with the
fleet, and kept his men hid till proper resolutions could be formed.
That done, they came close up to one of the deepest, and ordered her to
send the master on board quietly, threatening to give them no quarter
if any resistance or signal of distress was made. The Portuguese, being
surprised at these threats, and the sudden flourish of cutlasses from
the pirates, submitted without a word, and the captain came on board.
Roberts saluted him after a friendly manner telling him that they were
gentlemen of fortune, but that their business with him was only to be
informed which was the richest ship in that fleet; and if he directed
them right he should be restored to his ship without molestation,
otherwise he must expect immediate death.

Whereupon this Portuguese master pointed to one of forty guns and a
hundred and fifty men, a ship of greater force than the _Rover_; but
this no ways dismayed them; they were Portuguese, they said, and so
immediately steered away for him. When they came within hail, the master
whom they had prisoner was ordered to ask "how Seignior Captain did?"
and to invite him on board, "for that he had a matter of consequence to
impart to him;" which being done, he returned for answer that "he would
wait upon him presently," but by the bustle that immediately followed,
the pirates perceived that they were discovered, and that this was only
a deceitful answer to gain time to put their ship in a posture of
defense; so without further delay they poured in a broadside, boarded,
and grappled her. The dispute was short and warm, wherein many of the
Portuguese fell, and two only of the pirates. By this time the fleet was
alarmed: signals of top-gallant sheets flying and guns fired to give
notice to the men-of-war, who rid still at an anchor, and made but
scurvy haste out to their assistance; and if what the pirates themselves
related to be true, the commanders of those ships were blameable to the
highest deg