ilst the ship
was thus incapacitated for defence. Nor were their fears altogether
groundless; for they learnt afterwards by a Portuguese vessel, that
the Spaniards at Manilla had been informed that the Centurion was
in the Typa, and intended to careen there; and that thereupon the
governor had summoned his council, and had proposed to them to
endeavour to burn her whilst she was careening, which was an
enterprise, which, if properly conducted, might have put them in great
danger: They were farther told that this scheme was not only
proposed, but resolved on; and that a captain of a vessel had actually
undertaken to perform the business for forty thousand dollars, which
he was not to receive unless he succeeded; but the governor pretending
that there was no treasure in the royal chest, and insisting that the
merchants should advance the money, and they refusing to comply with
the demand, the affair was dropped: Perhaps the merchants suspected
that the whole was only a pretext to get forty thousand dollars from
them; and indeed this was affirmed by some who bore the governor no
good will, but with what truth it is difficult to ascertain.

As soon as the Centurion was righted, they took in her powder and
gunner's stores, and proceeded in getting in their guns as fast as
possible, and then used their utmost; expedition in repairing the
fore-mast, and in completing the other articles of her refitment.
And being thus employed, they were alarmed on the 10th of March, by a
Chinese fisherman, who brought them intelligence that he had been on
board a large Spanish ship off the grand Ladrone, and that there were
two more in company with her: He added several particulars to his
relation, as that he had brought one of their officers to Macao; and
that, on this, boats went off early in the morning from Macao to them:
And the better to establish the belief of his veracity, he said he
desired no money if his information should not prove true. This was
presently believed to be the fore-mentioned expedition from Manilla,
and the commodore immediately fitted his cannon and small arms in the
best manner he could for defence; and having; then his pinnace and
cutter in the offing, who had been ordered to examine a Portuguese
vessel which was getting under sail, he sent them the advice he had
received, and directed them to look out strictly: But no such ships
ever appeared, and they were soon satisfied the whole of the story
was a fiction; t