On the 4th April, 1610, Sir Henry Middleton, in command of a fleet consisting of the Trade's Increase, his own ship, the Peppercorn, Captain Nicholas Downton, and the Darling, sailed from the Downs.

The fleet having encountered heavy weather the General touched at “Saffee” in Barbary, to repair damages, from which port he departed on the 21st April. On the 29th of that month the fleet were off the bar of the “Sinnego, wch river is the parting of Barberye and Guinea” : from thence their course was shaped for the Cape de Verdes, where on the 1st May they anchored off the Inner Island, not far from a French ship.

Though the natives caught much fish none was purchased from them, the Expedition not having been provided with crystal beads, blue and white Counter … bloodstones, yellow-hafted knives, bars of iron and bottles of aquavitse, etc.; without which neither cows, goats, hens, wood, water, etc., could be obtained.

Here the Hollander which had accompanied the fleet from the Downs departed.

From the first to the sixteenth of May the crews were employed in effecting repairs and in transferring provisions from the Victualler to the other ships. When the latter operation was completed, Mr. Tucker in the Victualler sailed for “Porta Dalli” to take in a cargo of hides, which a Dutchman had made a contract to supply : and the fleet also put to sea.