niards themselves, alarmed by the incursions of Shirley and Jackson, oppressed by their despotic governors against whom they had no appeal, and foreseeing the probability of the event which soon after happened, had also thrown up their little property, and removed to Cuba,-leaving the deserted remains of former prosperity visible only in the number of edifices which rendered apparently respectable their once populous capital of St. Jago de la Vega.

Thus it is only by the glimmering light of a few obscure records, that, during the last twenty years, the existence of Spanish Jamaica is rendered visible.

1

CHAPTER VII.

THE CONQUEST OF JAMAICA BY THE BRITISH FORCES UNDER PENN AND VENABLES.-ITS HISTORY FROM THAT PERIOD UNTIL THE RESTORATION OF CHARLES II.

THE provocations* which the English nation had so repeatedly received from the arrogant monopoly of Spain, have been assigned as the ostensible motives influencing Cromwell in that sudden act of aggression which led to the subjugation of Jamaica. From the time of Ferdinand and Isabella, the sovereigns of Spain had assumed an exclusive right of navigating the American seas; and had maintained the exercise of perpetual hostility on the ships and subjects of all the nations of Europe found in any part of the new hemisphere. The frequent depredations committed upon their colonies, and the numerous losses which they sustained in the annual transit of their plate-fleet, by acts which, it must be confessed, were little better than piratical, had kept them in a state of continual irritation, and urged them to the vain measure of assuming a position which they possessed very little ability to maintain. Consequently, while the courts of London and Madrid were at peace in Europe, their subjects were permitted or encouraged to continue a desultory species of war

* See Purchas, v. iv. p. 1177; also Speed, Hollingshed, Stow, Hakluyt, Sir W. Raleigh's Essays, and Note XLV. D

fare in the American seas. The acts of aggression were often wantonly great; while the deliberate cruelty of the Spaniards measured the provocation, and exceeded the revenge.

Of their inhumanity towards the subjects of foreign states, such even as were wrecked upon their coasts, the instances are numerous, and the details monstrous. Their very mercies were cruel; for if they forbore to inflict instant death upon their victims, it was but to avail themselves of their services in the barbarous slavery of the mines. The remarkable act of Spanish treachery, which, in the year 1629, condemned six hundred peaceable English settlers at St. Christopher's to this subterraneous bondage, led to the treaty of the following year; which was intended to terminate the unbounded pretensions of the Spanish monarchs on the one hand, and the predatory warfare of British subjects on the other. By it the latter power was assured of an uninterrupted intercourse with Barbadoes, and its other colonies in these seas; while such savage retaliations were no longer to be permitted. Peace was therefore mutually proclaimed in the year 1630. But, in violation of all that is sacred and solemn between Christian states, and to the eternal, disgrace of the perfidious Spaniards, only eight short years had elapsed, when they wantonly attacked a small English colony which had peaceably taken possession of the unoccupied. island of Tortuga, and put every inhabitant to the sword. Charles I. was too deeply engaged in con

tests at home to resent this flagrant violation of faith. The Scots had at that moment thrown off their allegiance; and the fanatical foolery of the Kirk threatened the entire subversion.of his government. The Spaniards, taking advantage of his inability to retaliate, grew bold in their perfidy, and twelve years afterwards repeated the same bloody tragedy at Santa Cruz,-exterminating every Englishman whom they found there, and murdering, as at Tortuga, even the women and children.

Perfidy so flagrant, and pretensions so exorbitant, could not fail of having their due influence on the deliberations of the Protector; and he was satisfied that he had the popular plea of retribution for the measures which he had determined to pursue.

But Cromwell had also other motives, of a deeper political tendency, urging him to the act of aggression which he contemplated. He was a hero both in good and evil; endowed with great depth of judgment, and as exquisitely refined in the hypocritical cant of his times, as he was devoted to the

eager pursuits of his ambition. He was goodnatured, and cruel, as it best suited his interests: destitute alike of faith in his religion, honour in his word, or fidelity in his friendship. In short, he possessed, in an eminent degree, the qualities of a deep politician; nothing being wanting to his increasing fortune but the attainment of it by just means, a longer life, and children worthy of succeeding to it*.

*See Note XLVI.

The voice of the nation cried aloud for retaliation on the treacherous Spaniards; but Cromwell, like his murdered monarch, had too much to do at home, to have spared the force, and risked the loss, of seven thousand of his troops in the hazardous enterprise of a distant invasion, had he not hoped to have profited in some nearer point than the protection of his American subjects, or the satisfaction of retributive justice*. At that moment he had his most difficult game to play; and the time which elapsed between the equipment of the expedition and its sailing for America, was occupied in views of deeper interest than the mere consideration of colonial prosperity. Although Whitlock's unseasonable advice had induced him to dissemble his aim at royal power, yet he thought that some great or popular exploit might so raise his reputation as to obtain him, at least, the offer of it. Nor was he mistaken in his expectations; although, in the interim, circumstances occurred which prevented his acceptance of the proffered crown.

A.D.

But his great difficulty, at the present crisis, was, which to choose the cause of France, or 1654. that of Spain. The Spaniards, influenced by the Prince de Condé, who was then in the Netherlands, offered that, if Cromwell would assist in their disastrous war against France, they would never make peace with that power until he should have recovered Calais. But Cardinal Mazarin outbid

* See Note XLVII.