About 6: in the morninge (the winde beinge E: and n: (faire weather), we weighed Anchor and sett sayle, and before 10: we gatt through the needles, havinge so litle winde as we had muche to doe to stemme the tyde, so as the rest of our fleet (we being 9 in all, wherof some were small shippes which were bounde for newfound lande) could not gett out all them till the ebbe, in the afternoone the winde came s: and w: and we were becalmed, so as beinge not able to gett aboue 3: or 4: leagues Aprill from the needles, our Capt tacked about and putting his foresheets a back stayes, he stayed for the rest of the fleet, and as they came by vs we spake to them and about 8: in the eueninge, we let fall an Anchor, intendinge to stoppe till the ebbe. But before 10: at night the winde came about to Friday 9: Ap: the n: a good gale, so we putt vp a light in the poope, and weighed, and sett sayle, and by the daye light, we were come to Portland but the Talbott and some of the other shippes being not able to holde vp with vs, we were forced to spare our maine saile, and went on with a merrye gale: In the morninge we descried from the toppe 8: sayle a sterne of vs (whom Capt Lowe tould vs he had seene at Dunne nose1 in the euening) we supposinge they might be Dunkerkes,2 our Capt Causes the gunne roome and gunne deck to be Cleared, all the hammockes were taken downe, our ordinance laded, and our powder Chestes and fireworks made readye, and our landmen quartered amonge the seamen, and 25: of them appointed for muskettes, and every man written downe for his quarter.

The winde continued nblank space one quarter inch long with faire weather: and after noone it calmed, and we still sawe those 8: shippes to stande towardes vs and havinge more winde then we, they came vp apace, 243so as our Capt and the masters of our Consortes were more occasioned to thinke they might be Dunkerkes (for we were tould at yarmouthe that there were 10: sayle of them waytinge for vs) wherevpon we all prepared for to fight with them, and because and tooke downe some Cabbins, which were in the waye of our ordenaunce, and out of every shippe were throwne suche bedd matters as were subiecte to take fire, and we heaved out our longe boates, and putt vp our waste Clothes,3 and drewe forthe our men and armed them with muskettes, and other weapons, and instrumentes for fireworkes, and for an experiment, our Capt shott a ball of wild fire fastned to an arrowe, out of a Crosse bowe which burnt in the water a good tyme. The Lady A: and the other women and Children were removed into the lower quarter decke that they might be April out of danger; all thinges being thus fitted we went to prayer vpon the vpper deck. It was muche to see how chearfull and Comfortable all the Companye appeared, not a woman or Childe that shewed any feare, though all did apprehende the danger to have been great, if thinges had proved as was might well be expected (for there had been 8: against 4: and the least of the enemyes shippes: were reported to carrye 30: brasse peeces: but our trust was in the Lord of hoastes: and the Courage of our Captain, and his Care and dilligence did muche incourage vs. It was now about one of the clock and the fleet seemed to be within a league of vs, therefore our Capt (because he would shewe he was not afraid of them, and that he might see the issue before night should overtake vs, tacked about, and stoode to meet them, and when we came neere we perceived them to be our frendes, the litle neptune a shippe of some 20: peeces of ordinance, and her 2: Consortes, bounde for the streightes,4 a shippe of flushing and a frenchman, and 3: other English shippes bounde for Canada and newfoundland 5 so when we drewe neere everye shippe (as they mett) saluted eache other, and the musketteirs discharged their small shott and so (God be praysed) our feare and danger was turned into mirth and frendly entertainment. Our danger being thus ouer, we espyed 2: boates on fishinge in the Channell, so everye of our 4: shippes manned out a skiffe, and we bought of them great store of excellent freshe fish of diverse sortes.