They collected a force of four galleons, each as large as the Red Dragon, and some twenty small craft, row-boats carrying many men, and on 29 October appeared off the mouth of the river, where they hoped to surprise the English.
Some few days later the Portuguese attempted a further attack in what became known as the Battle of Swally, when Best, again standing out to sea, engaged them with such resolution and skill that after four hours' severe fighting they made all sail to get away.
In January 1612–13 Best in the Red Dragon, accompanied by the Osiander, left Surat, and, passing down the coast, crossed over to Aceh, where he arrived on 12 April.
All trade was forbidden except at Banda Aceh: but by releasing a Portuguese whom he had captured, he succeeded in winning the favour of the king, who gave him the title of Orancaya pute which is 'white or clear-hearted lord.'
At Bantam he obtained a grant of land on which to build warehouses, and when, having got a full cargo, he sailed in November on the return voyage, the company's affairs in the East were far more satisfactorily settled than before.
The Red Dragon, "richly laden," arrived in the Downs in the first week of June 1614, and Best shortly afterwards attended the EIC Council to give a detailed account of his proceedings.
The question was left to the EIC governor, Sir Thomas Smythe, who gave his opinion that no one could be a fitter commander than Best, but that for merchandise Captain William Keeling was far before him, and should be sent to Surat (7 September).
In 1623 he commanded the Garland (a 38/48-gun galleon, built in 1590), and when the fleet sailed for Spain to bring back Prince Charles, Best remained as senior officer in the Downs.
He had previously been engaged in the prevention of piracy, or the pursuit of pirates, and he would probably have had more of the same duty, had not the insolence of the Dutch, in destroying a Dunkirk privateer at Leith and blockading another at Aberdeen, rendered it necessary to send a small force to the coast of Scotland.
The Garland and Bonaventure sailed from Margate on 30 June, and, having gone to Abereen, brought the blockaded Dunkirker to the Downs, closely attended by two of the Dutch ships, and when, on 29 July, the convoy attempted to run off by herself, the Dutchmen would have made a prize of her if Best had not beaten them off.
As naval commissions then, as now, were signed only by the admiralty, Best had not the authority the Dutch required, and to evade the difficulty he was ordered to bring the ships up to Gravesend.