On 8 April 1681, whilst in command of HMS Adventure, he engaged one of these corsairs named the Golden Horse, a vessel larger, more heavily armed, and with a more numerous ship's company, The fight was long and bloody; both ships were much shattered, but neither could claim the victory, when a stranger came in sight under Turkish colours.
She proved, however, to be the English ship HMS Nonsuch, commanded by Captain Francis Wheler, and to her the Golden Horse at once submitted without further resistance.
A somewhat acrimonious dispute afterwards arose between the others and men of the two ships as to their relative share in the capture, which also involved John Benbow, Captain Wheler assuming all the honour to himself, and claiming the whole profit of the prize.
It would appear that his profession of allegiance was but a blind to enable him the better to act as agent to the exiled James; for on 16 March he went down the river to the Pendennis, then lying at Sheerness, and endeavoured by his personal influence and promises of money to persuade the lieutenants to agree with him in carrying over the ship to France; the plot also involved carrying over the fireship HMS Eagle, commanded by Captain Wilford, who seemed to acquiesce.
But Wilford got too drunk to act the part designed for him, and the lieutenants refused to have anything to do with it, or to let the Pendennis go; on which Booth, conceiving that he had gone too far, and that the affair could not be kept secret, fled to France.