On July 10th three sails were seen, bearing west, and the two privateers immediately gave chase. These were the _Marquis d'Antin_, 450 tons, 24 guns, and 68 men, commanded by Magon Serpere; the _Louis Erasmé_, 500 tons, 28 guns, and 66 men, commanded by Pedro Lavigne Quenell; and the _Notre Dame de Deliverance_, 300 tons, 22 guns, and 60 men, commanded by Pedro Litant; all three hailing from St. Malo. They were now returning from Lima; and little did Talbot and his men suspect the riches they carried. [Illustration: CAPTURE OF THE FRENCH ARMED SHIPS] However, they chased, and the others kept their wind, paying little heed. At seven o'clock Talbot fired a shot at them, upon which they hoisted their colours and formed line. The _Duke_, to windward, attacked first; Talbot afterwards engaged the _Marquis d'Antin_ for three hours, when she struck, though the _Prince Frederick_ was for a while between two fires, the _Louis Erasmé_ getting on her bow. When the _Marquis d'Antin_ surrendered the other attempted to flee, but was caught and captured. Meanwhile, Captain Morecock had been hotly engaged with the _Notre Dame de Deliverance_, which, however, realising that her consorts had struck, crowded sail and contrived to escape--the _Duke_ being probably hampered by damage aloft. The casualties were not heavy on either side, but the two French ships were dismasted. Reaching Kinsale on July 30th, the news of the immense value of the prizes caused special care to be used; they were escorted to Bristol by three men-of-war, and thence the treasure was conveyed to London in forty-five waggons. This tremendous cavalcade made its way through the city to the Tower, colours flying, bands playing, and a strong guard of bluejackets marching with it. The amount of treasure may be imagined from the fact that each seaman's share came to £850; the officers, of course, receiving much larger sums, in proportion to their rank. The owners' share was not less than £700,000; and the Scottish rebellion--"the '45"--having just broken out, they offered the money as a loan to the Government. Captain Talbot is said to have behaved with great kindness and generosity to his prisoners, permitting the officers to retain all their valuables and their swords, and presenting each seaman with twenty guineas when they were landed. The enemy, we are told, was most anxious to ransom the ships, but this, of course, was out of the question; and subsequently some of the crews revealed hiding-places in which considerable treasure was stowed in the "linings," or double sides, receiving a handsome present for their pains. Furthermore, in overhauling the cargo, the British seamen every now and then came across a "wedge of gold."