taking and fettling of Jamaica, will always be refolved, and were ordered by general Penn (whofe order I enjoined them to obey) to ftay there for us: but they marched away, which contrary to the firft • refolution, with fome other reafons, drew us beyond their landing (where we were to receive more victuals) to fecure them who were ftraggling up and down for water. Which put the enemy upon placing of an ambufh for them, which fell upon our forlorn and routed them; but the van immediately beat them back with lofs, and purfued them near to the city ⚫ walls who fhot at us. Viduals we wanted, having fafted two days every man of us; our ammunition fpent; no water; and our men ready to faint, and fome died; the eagernefs and heat of fight had drawn them beyond their ftrength. Whereupon it was refolved by a council of war, to retreat for meat and ⚫ ammunition; which we did; but our long march and this delay did give the enemy time to call in all the country to at leaft 4 or 5,000, and left our men, after travel by fea, bad diet, and fafting, very weak; fo that when we advanced the next, they fell upon our forlorn again, routed them, and then in the narrow • lanes and thick woods routed mine and major general Heare's regiments, flew my major and three of my captains, flew the major general, and wounded his lieutenant colonel, who is fince dead; and were not repulfed, till the regiment of feamen (with whom I C was) gave flop to this diforder. Never did my eyes fee men more difcouraged, being scarce able to make them ftand, when the enemy was retreated, who neloc, vol. iii. ver looked upon us until we were ready to faint for water; they having (which I forgot to tell before) ftopt all their wells; fo that we had not of ten miles at leaft, one drop of water (d).'-—Mr. Daniel, audii. p. 1-21, tor general in this expedition, gives much the fame ac4. Lond. count; and then adds, I cannot omit to express fomething concerning this great bufinefs, which I am fure (d) Or munde's State Papers, vol. ii. P.48. See alfo Thur P 594cc8. And Howard's collection of Letters, vol. 3753. up 'the 6 the world will miftake in reportinge; but myfelf being a prefent eye-witnefs there on the place, and amongst the crowd, in the midft of danger, near major general's perfon, I have not, neither fhall I, relate any thing but what I know for certain truth. I know a threefold cord cannot be eafily broken; but where they twift not equally together, thy many times cut one another; and this I am fure, that in martial affairs, where commands execute like lightnings, and thofe variable as the winds, according as the prefent emergency requires, and not for confent of others, to the lofle of all. I well know his highness would never fubmit, in all his paft actions, to fuch curbs, nor can brave defigns ever fucceed with fuch ⚫ bridles, which I hope to fee amended.' This feems a fenfible reflection on joining commiffioners and the admiral in authority with the general, and thereby rendring their advice and confent abfolutely neceffary in every affair. This was one unhappy caufe of the ill fuccefs they met with, we may well enough fuppofe. Another was the diflike of the admiral and fome of the fea officers, to the land forces, as the fame gentleman hints. in the following paffage. The uncharitablenefs of our rear admiral, fays he, will not fuffer my filence, for by that time we were by order fhipped from Hifpaniola, he did furiously and moft unchriftian-like fay, before good witnels, where are thefe cowardly Sta niards now? Will they not come and cut off thefe army rogues, that we may noe more be troubled with them? And his own lieutenant, my former acquaintance, being by accident aboard the fhip where I came into weak, and fo ill not able to ftand, after falutes and fome difcourfe, told me to my face (like to his profeffion) we were all overboard, that they might be rid of us again; fpeaking the fame words to capt. Fincher, in his extremity of weakness, and alfo to vol. iii. p. • others (e)' (e) Thurloe, 507. On the other hand, great complaint was made of general Venables. He was looked on as covetous and niggardly, and was poffeffed but of little efteem amongst the foldiery (f), having prohibited them from plundering 689. Cc 3 on (f) Id. p. loe, vol. iii. P. 505. be deemed as an effential fervice to (FFF) Britain, and meriting the highest applause. The (e) Thur on pain of death (g). A thing no way pleafing in fuch an expedition, where every man flattered himself with the hopes of making a fortune. Such were the caufes of the failure of the expedition to Hifpaniela; caufes which will always produce like effects. For unlefs there is unanimity of counfel, obedience to orders, confidence in the commander, and fufficient ftore of provifions and ammunition, it can never be expected but (b) See Ac- that things will go amifs. It were well if this had been the only affair in which difhonor and disgrace had acSettlements crued to the nation through the difagreement of comin America, manders, and the envy and ill will of the land and fea vol. ii. p. officers one towards another! Cromwell's genius did not Lond. 1758. appear in planning this expedition (b). count of the European 64. 8vo. (FFF) The taking and fettling of Jamaica, was an ef fential fervice to Britain.] After the difgrace received by the English, as mentioned in the preceding note, the army was reduced to the greatest extremities. The rains increafing, fays the auditor Daniel, our men weakning, all even unto death fluxing, the feamen aboard neglecting, that forced us to eat all our troop horses, (the enemy denying all relief, triumphing) and thefe miferies increafing, our council refolved by feeking God, to purge the army. First, Jackson [adjutantgeneral] found guilty of cowardice, had his fword broken over his head for a coward, his commiffion taken away, and expulft the army, and to be swabber to hofpital fhips of fick people, which was accordingly done. Some women found in mens apparel were punifhed, and all fufpected whores (Barbadoes and thofe plantations yielding few elfe) narrowly fought after; all officers and foldiers ftrictly commanded to obferve duty, upon greateft pains; one of major-general (now Fortefeue) foldiers, proved to run away, hanged; and indeed like a wife prudent general, all things by him ་ ordered; yet our fickness increafing, it was refolved • again The attempt on Hifpaniola quickly reached the ears of the Catholic King, who imme diately (i) vol. iii. p. 507. again to fhip, and fo directly for Jamaica (i). Thurloe, Venables himself fhall relate the fuccefs. Upon this • difafter and our mens fears we fell to new counfels, and refolved to try Jamaica (from which nothing diverted our first attempt, but that it wanted a name in the world, our men refufing to march again for Domingo) where we landed (having beaten the enemy from off his forts and ordnance) upon the tenth of May; and find the country in our judgments equal, if not fuperior, to Hifpaniola: and in four miles march here, I faw more cattle and plantations than in forty in Hifpaniola, and a better air, the fite more advantagious to intercept the Spanish Plate fleet. The Recovery and William of London are come to us with fome bifcuit, which we extreamly want, but the fleet claim it as theirs; and then we ftarve: for the enemy here, after figning articles, have run into the woods, and drove away all the cattle into the mountains, and left us nothing but bare walls and roots to fhelter and feed upon. We are getting horfe to make troopers and dragoons and then we hope well, if the Lord blefs a party we have fent forth under colonel Butler. The people have broke all their promifes all along ; but we have their governor and another principal man (1) Or as two hostages; they fay the articles are too harsh (k).' monde's All things at laft however were fettled, and Venables and Papers vol. Penn, between whom there was an ill understanding, and who had different parties even among the land forces, took the first opportunity of returning to England. Cromwell, greatly difpleafed at their whole conduct, and disappointed in his high hopes, we may well fuppofe was angry; and after hearing their mutual accufations and defences, committed them to the Tower. Certain it is, many of the officers complained greatly of Venables be haviour, both at Hifpaniola and Jamaica (1). The Englife were no fooner known to be gone to this latter place, Cc 4 but ii. p. 50. SeeThur loe, vol. iii. P. 646.755 (m) ThurJoe, vol. iii, P. 565. (1) Id. p. 733 (o) Id. vol. iv. p. 653, & feq. diately thereupon feizing the perfons and effects of the English merchants in his dominions, < but an account was fent by Mr. Muddiford from Bar. |