by the Portugueze, the Company reſolv’d to revenge Captain Davis’s Death, he being more than ordinarily reſpected by the Crew for his Affability and good Nature, as well as his Conduct and Bravery upon all Occaſions; and purſuant to this Reſolution, about 30 Men were landed in order to make an Attack upon the Fort, which muſt be aſcended to by a ſteep Hill againſt the Mouth of the Cannon. Theſe Men were headed by one Kennedy, a bold daring Fellow, but very wicked and profligate; they march’d directly up under the Fire of their Ship Guns, and as ſoon as they were diſcover’d, the Portugueze quitted their Poſt and fled to the Town, and the Pyrates march’d in without Oppoſition, ſet Fire to the Fort, and threw all the Guns off the Hill into the Sea, which after they had done, they retreated quietly to their Ship.
But this was not look’d upon as a ſufficient Satisfaction for the Injury they received, therefore moſt of the Company were for burning the Town, which Roberts ſaid he would yield to, if any Means could be propoſed of doing it without their own Deſtruction, for the Town had a ſecurer Scituation than the Fort, a thick Wood coming almoſt cloſe to it, affording Cover to the Defendants, who under ſuch an Advantage, he told them, it was to be fear’d, would fire and ſtand better to their Arms; beſides, that bare Houſes would be but a ſlender Reward for their Trouble and Loſs. This prudent Advice prevailed; however, they mounted the French Ship, they ſeiz’d at this Place, with 12 Guns, and light’ned her, in order to come up to the Town, the Water being ſhoal, and battered down ſeveral Houſes; after which they all returned on Board, gave back the French Ship to thoſe that had moſt Right to her, and ſailed out of the Harbour by the light of two Portugueſe Ships, which they were pleaſed to ſet on Fire there.
