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AT A COUNCIL OF WAR HELD AT ST. JAGO DE LA VEGA, the 7th JUNE 1655,

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THAT whofoever goes for England, to reprefent the condition of the army, and fhall return again within a twelvemonth after his departure, fhall be uncapable of receiving benefit by any plantation, being a proportion as a member of the army.

That we are willing, if the general pleafes to take the trouble upon him of going into England, to reprefent the condition of the army and this ifland, to procure fuch relief and fupplies as fhall be needful for the carrying on the defign. That he fhall difpofe himself for the voyage as foon as he thould think convenient.

That fome one officer of the army be defired to attend the general into England, and that the officer agreed upon be colonel Buller.

We whofe names are underwritten, being field officers of the army, though not prefent at the 'council of war betore mentioned, do freely confent to, and approve of, the votes and refolutions of the faid council as they are before exprefied.

PHILIP WARD,
HENRY BARTLETT
WILLIAM SMITH,

MICHAEL BLAND,
WILLIAM JORDAN.

Jamaica,

Jamaica, July 18, 1655.

SEVERAL CONSIDERATIONS TO BE HUMBLY
BE HUMBLY REPRESENTED TO 13
HIGHNESS THE LORD PROTECTOR AND COUNCIL, IN BEHALF OF
THE ARMY IN AMERICA,

AS we do, with all thankfulness, acknowledge his highneffes care, in ord ving confiderable fupplies and accommodations for the army, though it pleated God, through his providence, to retard them-fo for the future it is humbly defired and hoped, that his highnefs will be pleafed, from time to time, to order, upon the terms formerly agreed on, accommo-lations for cloathing of officers and foldiers, and all manner of work g tools and inftruments, better than thofe now received; for the wood generally fo hard, and tools edges fo bad, that they are fearce fervice. able; as alfo bread, oatmeal, brandy, &c. Arms, ammunition, plank, and medicines, &c.

That feveral from Scotland, or elsewhere, may be sent to assist in planting; for which the officers, out of their pay, will make fuch allowance as his highnefs fhall think fit, and affign them fuch proportions of land as his highness fhall direct, at the expiration of their refpective terms: by this means we fhall be able to make provifions for fuch as are already here, and fuch as fhall be fent hither by his highnefs for further fervice, and they will be in readiness for fuch other employments as his highness fhall command.

That the allotment and diftribution of land to the refpective regiments of the army, already approved of by his highneffes commiffioners, may b ratified by his highneffes fanction. The allotment made to the St, Ciftopher's regiment, which is to be reduced, excepted.

That fuch encouragement as his highnefs thall think fit, may be given and granted, to fuch as fhall defire to come from England or any other Inglith colonies.

That in regard it may happen, as by experience it hath done, that the fupplics ordered and intended by his highnels may not feafonably arrive, by reaton of contrary winds; by reafon whereon, the army may be dif trolled and reduced to exigencies, his highnels will be pleafed to enable

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the army to take up neceffary provifions for our accommodation of fuch merchant fhip or fhips as fhall come into the harbours of this ifland, and to draw bills of payment on fuch treafury in England as his highness fhall think fit, the fame not exceeding ten thoufand pounds.

That for the better ordering and regulating this commonwealth, and encouragement of fuch as defire to live under a civil and fettled government, his highness will be pleafed to fend fuch conftitutions and laws as his highnefs thall think fit, for the government of this place; or impower fuch in the place as his highnefs fhall approve of, to make and conititute, from time to time, fuch wholefome and neceflary laws as fhall be moit fit for the ordering and governing of things here; and to erect a court and courts of juftice and equity, for deciding controverfies between party and party, and power granted to allow fuch officers as fhall be employed fuch falary as fhall be judged needful.

That, in regard much inconvenience hath been found by the diftin&t and independant command of the army and fleet, his highnefs would be pleafed to order that both may be under one command; and that power may be given to erect courts of admiralty, and grant commiflions to private men of war, to annoy the enemics of our nation.

That his highnefs would pleafe to allow, that fuch merchant or mer chants, as thall be willing to advance the fervice and plantations of this ifland, may have all due encouragement; and fuch perfon or perfons, as his highnets thall pleafe to authorize and appoint here, may be enabled to treat and contract with him or them accordingly.

That, forafmuch as the officers have found, by fad experience, that the generality of the private foldiers of this army are men of low fpirits, apt to receive impreffions of fear, and bafely to defert their officers and fervice, his highnefs be humbly defired, for the more effectual carrying on the war in thefe parts, to order a confiderable fupply of well difciplined, approved, and experienced, foldiers, fuch as have been accuftemed to hardship in Ireland or elfewhere, well accommodated with provifions, leather bottles, tents, &'c.

RICHARD HOLDIPE, JOHN READ, WILLIAM JORDAN,

EDWARD

EDWARD DOYLY, HENRY ARCBOLD, HENRY BARTLETT,
ROBERT SMITH, PHILIP WARD, MICHAEL BLAND,

WILLIAM SMITH, RICHARD FORTESCUE, SAMUEL BARRY,
ANDREW CARTER, VINCENT CORBETT, FRANCIS BARRINGTON.

THESE preceding propofals were alfo given me from the army, to prefent to his highnefs, in order to the better fetting of affais, and preventing for the future what had formerly been the prejudice of the army. Both thefe were delivered to me to prefent to his highnefs in England, but I mad not any hafte to go, intending to fettle things fully there; but my flux encreating fo exceedingly, that, about three weeks aiter, I fent to general Penn and captain Butler to let them know I now defpaired of Le, defiring them to come, that we might break open his highneffes lat and clofe commiftion, which was thus indorfed-Not to be opened but in cafe of the death, difability, or abfence, of one or both of the generals-I had, for about a fortnight before, left the command of the army to major gene al Fortefcue, and was now confined to my bed. They delayed two days, though I fent feveral meffengers :-at laft, I caufed it to be opened before the officers, and, according to its contents, nominated major-g_neral Fortefcue, and refigned my command to him, figned his commition, and general Penn joined in it. Captain Butler came into my chamb r, juft as I had refigned my command, and fpake to the officers to ackno-vledge the major-general as their commander in chief. Butler,, finding the tymptoms of death, he and Buller fmiled upon each other (which I ooferved with fome trouble of mind), but he refufed to jom with me to appoint a general in my place, according as the commiffion required.—— The words of the commillion ran thus: We do impower you (nawing "We the commiffioners), or any teo or one of you, the rest being dead or absent, that, in cafe general Venables die, be difah.ed, or abfent, then you, or any tw) or more of you, as aforefad, no choose and a point fome other pe fin om you judge moji fit to fucceed in his place, to carry on the je vice there. &c. Vice adiniral Goodfon was appointed, by the commition, ing no I Ins place, upon the fame grounds and occafion. Within two d vs atter, ill into a cal nture; and now I cannot rite any thing to y on knowledge; but I find, by circumstances as well as other relation, cortimod in tis di tation out one month, and was the in that conditon caned on board, the phyficians adviling it; in r a 1

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that no means they could ufe did prove effectual to help me, and my flux having ftopped at fea whilft we came between Hifpaniola and Jamaica, they hoped it might stay again; however it was but an adventure, no hurt could follow to try for at land I could not live, and at fea haps I might recover; and, if not, it was not material whether worms or fifh eat that poor and almoft confumed remainder of me. Upon this, I was carried on board July, 1655, and there kept nine or ten days, expecting I would certainly die. At laft we put to fea, where others that went pretty well on board died within a few days, and I the first night flept foundly, neither the jactitation of the fea nor the noife of the men difturbed me; fo that within a week I recovered my fenfes again. But, before I take leave of Jamaica, I cannot but with trouble of spirit remember the fad condition of the army, being infected with difeafes, fwept away by forty, fifty, fixty, yea fome weeks a hundred, by fevers and fluxes, caufed by their want of food or unwholefome diet; neceffity caufing them rather to chufe unfound or unhealthful food than none at all, the feamen not delivering the bread and brandy, the chief prefervations against fluxes in thofe parts, delaying our fupplies, though daily urged by us, fometime, pretending one thing then another; though this was fpoken of before, yet being now more neglected than ever, I cannot but fpeak of it again, and defire the reader to look back into captain Howe's and Mr. Daniel's letters, writ from hence, and upon the occafion of the army's neceffities.-Mr. Daniel, being our commiffary, received the provifions from the feamen, and is therefore beft able to fpeak of their demeanours; and what he writ he complained of to me before their faces, juftifying the bafenefs and rottennefs of the bifcuits, and their denying to weigh them, but requiring acquittances from him and captain Bamford for what quantity they pleafed to name, or clte refufing to deliver any

at all.

The officers and foldiers preffed to have their trunks on fhore, but were not permitted to go on board for them, and fome of them complained that the feamen had carried their neceffaries back into England, when they returned with general Penn; wherefore major-general Fortescue writ to me feveral times, when I had occafion to go to the commiffioners about bufinefs, they keeping on board and refuting to come to me to difpatch bufinefs; fo that how weakfoever or unfit for business or travel I were, yet I muft go to them (that were in health) or all muft fink or fwim for any care they took. His letters follow;

May

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