 It was while sailing off the Isle of Wight that Colpoys learned from Captain Edward Thornbrough of Robust that Hannibal had succeeded in catching the French frigate Gentille early on the morning of 11 April . The French captain surrendering without a fight before the overwhelming British force that he faced , shocked that his frigate had been caught by a ship of the line in open waters . In response , Hannibal 's captain , John Markham , proudly claimed that " Hannibal sails like a witch " . Hannibal subsequently joined Robust in the chase of Fraternité , succeeding in firing several shot at the French ship before falling behind in a period of calm weather . After a chase of several days , Fraternité 's captain lightened his ship by throwing guns and stores overboard and ultimately escaped pursuit , later rejoining the Brest fleet and participating in a number of subsequent campaigns . Both Gloire and Gentille were purchased for the Royal Navy , the entirety of Colpoy 's squadron sharing in the prize money by prior arrangement . Neither ship was in particularly good condition however and neither had long service in the British fleet . Colpoys returned to the inshore blockade of Brest with his squadron following a brief refit at Portsmouth , remaining off the port for the remainder of the year . 
