Davis equipped her for the pirate service, and called her “The Rover.”  With his two ships he sailed for the bay of Anamaboa, which he entered about noon, and took several vessels which were there waiting to take in negroes, gold, and elephants’ teeth.  Davis made a present of one of these vessels to the Dutch captain and his crew, and allowed them to go in quest of their fortune.  When the fort had intelligence that they were pirates, they fired at them, but without any effect; Davis fired also, and hoisted the black colors, but deemed it prudent to depart.

The next day after he left Anamaboa, the man at the mast-head discovered a sail.  It may be proper to inform our readers, that, according to the laws of pirates, the man who first discovers a vessel, is entitled to the best pair of pistols in the ship, and such is the honor attached to these, that a pair of them has been known to sell for thirty pounds.

Davis pursued that vessel, which, being between him and the shore, labored hard to run aground.  Davis perceiving this, got between her and the land, and fired a broadside at her, when she immediately struck.  She proved to be a very rich prize, having on board the Governor of Acra, with all his substance, going to Holland.  There was in money to the amount of fifteen thousand pounds, besides a large quantity of merchant goods, and other valuable articles.

Before they reached the Isle of Princes, the St. James sprang a leak, so that the men and the valuable articles were removed into Davis’s own ship.  When he came in sight of the fort he hoisted English colors.  The Portuguese, seeing a large ship sailing towards the shore, sent a sloop to discover her character and destination.  Davis informed them, that he was an English man-of-war, sent out in search of some pirates which they had heard were in this quarter.  Upon this, he was piloted into the port, and anchored below the guns at the fort.  The governor was happy to have Englishmen in his harbor; and to do honor to Davis, sent down a file of musqueteers to escort him into the fort, while Davis, the more to cover his design, ordered nine men, according to the custom of the English, to row him on shore.

Davis also took the opportunity of cleaning and preparing all things for renewing his operations.  He, however, could not contentedly leave the fort, without receiving some of the riches of the island.  He formed a scheme to accomplish his purpose, and communicated the same to his men.  He design was to make the governor a present of a few negroes in return for his kindness; then to invite him, with a few of the principal men and friars belonging to the island, to dine on board his ship, and secure them all in irons, until each of them should give a large ransom.  They were accordingly invited, and very readily consented to go:  and deeming themselves honored by his attention, all that were invited, would certainly have gone on board.  Fortunately however, for them, a negro, who was privy to the horrible plan of Davis, swam on shore during the night, and gave information of the danger to the governor.