Watts' West Indies and Virginia expedition

On 29 May off the south coast of Hispaniola, Abraham Cocke's formation of three ships were joined by Edward Spicer's 80-ton Moonlight (alias Mary Terlanye) and the 30-ton pinnace Conclude of Joseph Harris in the morning. Cocke's reunited trio of vessels then blockaded the southern coast of Santo Domingo for two weeks, capturing the 60-ton Spanish merchantman Trinidad and two smaller island frigates on 17 and 24 June respectively.[6] After these captures the English broke off the blockade and moved further West towards the Tiburon peninsula of Hispaniola.[3]

On 12 July whilst off the Tiburon, fourteen Spanish sail approached out of the east.[13] These ships were five days out of Santo Domingo and were bound toward the Spanish plate fleet assembly point at Havana escorted by Captain Vicente González's galleon. The English ships took up position to pursue and were just in time as Newport's Little John and John Evangelist came up to join them.[15]

Location of Tiburon Peninsula, Hispaniola (present day Haiti)

Cocke gave an immediate signal to attack; the Spanish who saw the English approach decided to scatter, and the armed ships attempted to form a defensive position to allow the lighter armed vessels to escape.[13] Suddenly on seeing Newport's ships come from behind Cocke's vessels, Gonzalez decided to retreat.[6] Most of the Spanish convoy decided to scatter south west and they were pursued until nightfall by the six privateers, who took a single prize, a pinnace.[1]

The following morning, Hopewell, Moonlight, and Conclude then discovered the 350-ton, nine-gun Spanish vice flagship galleon Buen Jesús of Captain Manuel Fernández Correa and Master Leonardo Doria anchored nearby. Cocke then attacked surprising the Spanish; with the Buen Jesús unable to get away in the process of hauling its anchor a long range exchange of fire commenced in which six Spanish were killed and four wounded.[6] The English then closed amidships firing as they came alongside but as they attempted to board the vessel they were repelled.[13] Undeterred the English made a more determined attack and secured it despite a stout, four-hour resistance, most of which consisted of hand-to-hand fighting.[15] As well as the ship being captured, sixty eight Spaniards were captured with another twenty killed or wounded while English losses were around fifteen.[16]

Whilst the fight for Buen Jesus was going on Little John and John Evangelist chased González's main body which was headed South West toward the Colony of Santiago (present-day Jamaica) and all the while exchanged broadsides with the Spanish flagship.[17] As soon as the Spanish arrived off Caguaya bay the English ships immediately drove at two of them.[18] With intense fire the English were able to force the two ships aground before the six or seven Spanish vessels that survived reached Santiago de la Vega.[1] English boat parties then immediately attacked the grounded ships; the Spanish that did defend them were easily driven off.[15] An attempt to refloat both beached vessels then began as they used ropes and a helpful southerly wind.[3] The English managed to get one of the ships off the beach but the attempt was not successful with the other ship - already badly damaged it then sank.[6] The English then re-embarked their ships and together with the new prize sailed Northwest toward Cape Corrientes.[17]

On 14 July Cocke gave the Buen Jesus to Newport for protection since her cargo was immense and needed to be transported back to England with haste. The cannons and firearms from the ship were stripped off before Newport's victorious privateers withdrew from the Jamaican coastline and headed East towards Cuba.[16]

Cayo Jutias as seen today

At sunset on 18 July, Newport's Little John and John Evangelist sighted three Spanish merchantmen off Cayo Jutias (west of Havana and north of Los Órganos).[15] They proved to be stragglers from Commodore Rodrigo de Rada's convoy from Veracruz, which had entered the Cuban capital five days earlier.[17] The English attacked in the darkness and opened fire compelling one ship to reverse course. The following morning the English closed in on the remaining pair: the 150-ton Nuestra Señora del Rosario captained by Miguel de Acosta and a 60-ton pinnace Nuestra Señora de la Victoria under Juan de Borda.[7] The Spaniards had lashed both vessels together, and a long-range artillery exchange commenced which the English got the better of, severely damaging Victoria.[3] The English then closed amidships with the Victoria and managed to board her and ferocious hand-to-hand combat soon followed.[5] Newport killed the Spanish captain in the melee that followed but soon after his right arm was struck off by another Spaniard trying to protect his captain.[6] However Newport was saved by a sergeant-at-arms who killed his would be assailant.[15] The Spanish were soon driven from the vessel and the English suffered five killed and sixteen wounded (including Newport) while the Spanish losses were higher.[16]

The English then discovered Victoria to be so badly holed that it sank within fifteen minutes, taking much of the silver within.[9] The next target, the Spanish vessel Rosario, was swiftly boarded not long after.[10] Another vicious fight took place but again the English soon forced the Spanish from the vessel having suffered two killed and eight injured.[3] The Rosario too was badly damaged and sinking; the English had no choice and drove the vessel ashore at the western end of Cayo Jutias.[7] Soon after Newport despite being in pain and shock still sent orders and released the Spanish prisoners and sent them ashore.[6] The English then pillaged the vessel but found only a small haul of valuables after which was then broken up and burnt.[18] Newport with only half his arm ordered a return to England.[16]

Newport sailed back to England leaving Cocke in charge, so the Hopewell and the Moonlight with John White sailed to Roanoke with their half of the mission complete.[19][11]