wind of the French admiral which had gone in shore; but we put about likewise keeping still the weather gage, expecting our consort and the rest to have followed our example.  But when the Portuguese had passed our consort and the two French ships, firing as they went along, all of these ships and our own pinnace continued to seawards, leaving us in the laps, (lurch.) We continued our course after the enemy, keeping the weather gage, that we might succour the French admiral who was to leeward of them all; and on coming up with him, all the enemies ships bore down and gave him their broadsides, after which they put about again, but durst not board him as we were still to wind-wind of them, otherwise they had certainly taken or sunk him.  Three of their smallest vessels were such prime sailors that it was quite impossible for any of our ships to have boarded them, and they carried such ordnance that they would have sore troubled any three of our ships; if they had been able to gain the weather-gage.  Their other ships, the admiral and vice-admiral, were both notably appointed.

[Footnote 265:  Bore down upon them.—­E.]

[Footnote 266:  Meaning apparently that she lay too much over to leeward.—­E.]

When the French admiral was clear of them, he lay as near the wind as possible and ran to seaward after the rest, while we followed the enemy to leeward.  Then seeing us alone and in chase, they put about, which we did likewise to keep the wind of them, and in this situation we sailed within base shot of them, but they shot not at us, because we had the weather gage and they could not therefore harm us.  We continued in this course till night, when we lost sight of them.  All the rest of our ships made to seawards with all the sail they could carry; and, as they confessed themselves afterwards, they gave us their prayers, and no other help had we at their hands.

Next day, the 28th, we rejoined our own consort and pinnace, and two of the French ships, but the third, which was a ship of 80 tons belonging to Rouen, had fled.  I took my skiff and went to them to know why they, had deserted me.  John Kire said his ship would neither rear nor stear[267].  John Davis said the pinnace had broke her rudder, so that she could sail no farther, and had been taken in tow by the Hart.  I found the French admiral to be a man of resolution, but half his crew was sick or dead.  The other Frenchman said his ship could bear no sail, and 16 of his men were sick or dead, so that he could do nothing.  After this the French ships durst not come to anchor for fear of the Portuguese.

[Footnote 267:  Meaning perhaps, would neither wear nor tack?—­E.]