7

Ship Esperance at an anchor in the road of Ostend bound to Bengale

Wednesday February 6. 1726
Got all our people abord & made clear to saile, received on bord
a small case mark't MDC. but found there was
not water enough, to goe out.

Thursday the 7.
Thick close weather with a south-southwest wind, made the ship fast
untill another opportunity.

Friday the 8.
Thick cloudy weather, received on bord two cases mark't AD. 2.2.

Friday the 15.
This morning the wind bring fair, the Commodore
made the signal to saile, at 1/2 past 11. Cast of from
the piles with a fine gale at south-southwest & got out, saluted
the towne with 13 gunns, in company with the Peace
Commodore & bound with us to Bengal, the Lyon
Eagle & Tyger bound to China.

Saturday the 16.
About 1. a clock came to an anchor in 10 fathoms with
our best bower, the Stadthouse bore southeast 1/2 south distance
about 2 leagues. Moderate gales with some rain in
the night. The wind vearable from the south-southwest a northwest
the same ships in company, all the gentlemen came
on bord.

Sunday the 17.
Moderate gales, with fair weather, the wind between
the south & west. The morning the Commodore made a signal for
all Captaines presently after hoisted in our longboat & got all
clear for sailing.

Monday the 18.
Moderate gales, fair weather, the wind between the
southwest & northwest. This morning lifted our anchor, to see
if it was clear, found it so, then lay & drove till 10, then came
too in 7 fathoms. The Stadthouse south-southeast 1/2 east. Began expending
our small beer & seer beef. Got downe topgallant yards.

Tuesday February 19. 1726
The first part hard gales with close weather, attended
with some squalls. At 11. a clock at night struck yards
and topmasts, & veared out one cable & halfe. The wind
blowing hard, between the southwest & west by north. Towards the
latter end more moderate, & the wind vearable, hove
in our cable & lifted our anchor, found it clear & let it
goe again.

Wednesday the 20.
The first part moderate gales attended with some
small rain, the wind between the west & north in the
afternoon got up, yards & topmasts, the latter end hard
gales with thick close weather, the wind between the
south & west. In the forenoon struck our yards & topmasts, &
veared one cable & 2/3 of another, the wind blowing very
hard at south-southwest.

Thursday the 21.
Strong gales, with close weather, the wind between
the south & west. But about 9 a clock the wind veared to the
westward & fearing it would come to the northwest let goe
our small bower anchor. About 12. the wind blew hard at
northwest veared out the best bower, we had a strong storm
of wind, ride very hard, about 3 in the morning in a dipp
broke our spritsaile yard in the slings & brought home
our best bower anchor, so that we had both a head, cutt
away the spritsaile yard & saile, set up our main rigging
& made all snug for riding, shipt a great deal of water
about 3 in the morning the Eagle drove by us, & then
brought up again.