The 17th of _November_, 1718, the Lieutenant sail'd from _Kicquetan_, in _James_ River in _Virginia_, and, the 21st in the Evening, came to the Mouth of _Okerecock_ Inlet, where he got Sight of the Pyrate. This Expedition was made with all imaginable Secrecy, and the Officer manag'd with all the Prudence that was necessary, stopping all Boats and Vessels he met with, in the River, from going up, and thereby preventing any Intelligence from reaching _Black-Beard_, and receiving at the same time an Account from them all, of the Place where the Pyrate was lurking; but notwithstanding this Caution, _Black-beard_ had Information of the Design, from his Excellency of the Province; and his Secretary, Mr. _Knight_, wrote him a Letter, particularly concerning it, intimating, _That he had sent him four of his Men, which were all he could meet with, in or about Town, and so bid him be upon his Guard._ These Men belonged to _Black-beard_, and were sent from _Bath-Town_ to _Okerecock_ Inlet, where the Sloop lay, which is about 20 Leagues. _Black-beard_ had heard several Reports, which happened not to be true, and so gave the less Credit to this, nor was he convinced till he saw the Sloops: Whereupon he put his Vessel in a Posture of Defence; he had no more than twenty five Men on Board, tho' he gave out to all the Vessels he spoke with, that he had 40. When he had prepared for Battle, he set down and spent the Night in drinking with the Master of a trading Sloop, who, 'twas thought, had more Business with _Teach_, than he should have had.