Page images
PDF
EPUB

ing related to the council, we were not permitted to flay for arms, much lefs, which I carneftly preffed, to exercife the men and try what they were; but the officers and myfelf were threatened to be imprifoned if they ftayed in the city till next day; whereby fome were conítrained to leave their neceffaries behind them, which they could never procure to be brought to them; all being denied carriages, which are allowed all other officers in the three nations. I then moved, that we might have a general muster, that I might fee the officers and foldiers together, the better to judge of their fitness and abilities; and was promised it thould be at Portfmouth; but, before I could come thither, fome were fhipped and fent away, and all were reproached for not fhipping fafter than wind, and tide, and boats, would ferve us; and, when I carneftly moved to have our ftore fhips with us, I was promifed they thould meet us at Portfmouth, and there I was told they would be with us before we left Barbadoes. In all my defires and propofals I was conftantly answered with fcoff or bad language by fome; as, moving for targets, the country being woody (the want of which we found to our grief) we had a jeft told us, and then a denial. Instead of minifters to the fix regiments I preffed for, being the design was alledged to be for the propagation of the gofpel, a number of black coats were offered; I complaining of prophane perfons put upon me, it was anfwered, if they offended to cafhier them, contrary to the old adage turpius ejicitur, &c. All these things might have difcouraged me from going, had not my affections to the fervice of my country tranfported me beyond my reafon, and all the perfuafions of my friends. J, leaving a confiderable employment at home, as well as eftate, fo that neceflity did not force me upon the fervice. I was promifed ten months provifions for ten thousand men; but, inítead of having it put on board with me, it was fent to London to the ftore fhips, for want of room, and yet the officers of the navy took in commodities to trade withall at Barbadoes. When we came to Barbadoes, being the twenty-ninth of Janu ary, we fell next day to purfue our bufinefs and inftructions, but found things fo contrary to expectation and promife, that myfelf writ the following letter to the protector:

May it pleafe your highness,

THE good hand of God going along with us, at fea preferving us from tempefts and difcafes, not twenty that I can hear of dying in all the fleet, the difficulties and wants we have met with in this place are fully

repretted

repreffed by the commiffioners, that I should but trouble your highness with mentioning of them. It may be your highnefs thinks we have fpent too much time, and fo do I; but when our wants are recounted, and the difficulties or rather impoffibilities to fupply ourselves here confidered, it will appear to fuch as know this ifland we have not been flow; neither will it be imputed as a fault to us, I hope, confidering our ftores and other neceffaries are all behind, which plead the more for us, and manifests our obedience to your highnefs's commands; yet nothing can difcourage, fave what does wholly difable us to profecute the fame, which I hope will appear by our fubfequent actings. Our fupplics and recruits, I am confident, need not be preffed upon your higlinefs, they being fo neceffary, and the work fo ferviceable to your highness, that I shall give you no other diverfion, fave conclude myself, &c.

A LETTER SENT THE LORD PRESIDENT LAWRENCE, LORD LAMBERT,

AND SEVERAL OTHERS OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE.

AFTER a moft merciful and good hand of God towards us at fea, the twenty-ninth laft we came to anchor at Carlile Bay. The next day we landed and fell about our work, but prefently of our own felves, and by friends privately, were affured (which fince we find true) that all the inhabitants were againft our defign, as deftructive to them, and that they would not readily and cordially aflift us. All the promises made to us in England of men, provifions, and arms, we find to be but promifes, and do not know that we have raifed one thoufand five hundred men, and not arms for three hundred of them. Mr. Neal's fifteen hundred arms are dwindled to one hundred and ninety. We did not doubt but my lord and his council had proceeded and grounded their refolves upon greater certainties than we yet ditcern, by any one particular, of all that was taken as most certain, the confidence of which did caufe us, with great affurance, to reft fatisfied with what was promised us we fhould find here; only the country has raised us fixty horfe in a troop. We cannot expect to be relieved from hence with provifions, they buying all their own; and, had we not found fome fent here by the victuallers of the navy, I know not how we thould have fubfifted when gone hence. We have feized fome Dutch veffels which we found here, which refufe to give us any invoice or bill of lading, they having almoft fold all their goods, and landed them before we came; and the inhabitants will not discover to whom

B 2

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]

pow

whom they were fold; only fince we came, a Dutchman came in with two hundred and forty-four negroes, which we have fold for about five thousand one hundred and fixty-two pounds; and another veffel, with fome affes, fold for about two thoufand two hundred pounds, and twentythree not yet fold, which will much exceed all other feizures; but whatever is not to be gotten here must be fent from England, or we muft perifh. We defired our men's arms might be changed, being extremely bad, and two fifths not to be made ferviceable here. Of three thoufand men defigned, we brought but two thousand five hundred, and of those not one thousand fix hundred well armed, fo that our ftores not coming as promised, we are making half pikes here to arm the reft of thofe we raise, for we have not hopes at any rate to procure one thoufand fix hundred fire arms. If bread and meat be not conftantly fent us from England, we must want it; for caffava after it is planted (and we cannot plant it till June at fooneft) will not be fit to eat for one year. It is agreed upon, by all those perfons that know America, that English powder will not keep above nine months, and at that time we muft receive conftant fupplies. French and Spanish powder will keep many years, therefore I carneftly defire falt petre and all other materials, with men to make der, may be fent to us; for the ingredients will keep uncompounded very well. We have met with all the obftruction that men in this place can caft in our way, and, now we have time to draw our men together, we find not half of them armed, nay, in some regiments, not above two hundred arms, the most unfit arms and unfit men generally given us, and here we are forced to make half pikes to arm them, which hath loft us fo much time and will hazard our ruin. Had we been armed in England, doubtlefs we had been at work before this. I have juft now received an account from general Penn of what arms the thips can accommodate us with, which, as you may fee by the enclofed particular, will not amount to, in shot, above fifteen fhot a man, a moit inconfiderable proportion to have hunted tories with in Ireland, where we might have fupplies every day, much more to attempt one of the greatest princes in the world, within his moft beloved country, where fupplies cannot be had above twice a year, and this ifland upon trial will not fit us with fo much; a fad matter that we must attempt fo high with little or nothing, or return; to do which fome of us could more chearfully hear the news of death than be guilty of. I have given the best account I am able. The com miffioners will be more large, I believe, to his highness. Pray let not the

old

1

old proverb be verified in us, out of fight out of mind; if fo, you will quickly hear we are not in this world, &c.

Barbadoes, February

The fubftance alfo of this letter, with fome particular inftructions, was written to Mr. William Rowe and Martin Nowell, who were agents for me and the army at London.

The first bufinefs we fell upon at Barbadoes was the feizing of all Dutch veffels, according to his highnefs inftructions. General Penn put his own nephew, one Mr. Poole, to take the invoices and bills of lading. Mr. Winflow and myself urged that he should not act but by commiflion from us, and that we would put a check upon him; he told us, he had power of himself to commiffion him, refuted ours, and would not admit of a check, nor fuffer to fee original invoices; only one I faw, which was conveyed away immediately, and the number of elephant's teeth in it, which I remembered exactly, one hundred and ninety-one, were, in the copy of it, made but one hundred and fifty. I urged the falfehood of the copy, and defired the original; at laft they brought in a hundred and eighty-one, and urged that the otherten were my mistake, but I had taken the number into my memorial, and could not miftake it; however this one act (if the reft of the invoices, as I have ground to believe, were curtailed accordingly) will fhew the feamen's proceedings. Mr. Winflow and myself confidered how to remedy this, but finding the feamen our enemies, and at leaft to fcorn us and adhere to their general, and colonel Searle to comply with him, we were constrained to be patient by force, and commit the thing to private remembrance, when time ferved to vindicate ourfelves, and Mr. Winflow faid he would certity secretary '1 hurloe of it; which I believe he did.

AT A COUNCIL OF WAR HELD AT THE INDIAN BRIDGE TOWN IN BARBADOES, MARCH 18, 1654, TO CONSIDER THE WANTS OF THE ARMY,

General Venables,

Major General Heines,

Colonel Morris,

Colonel Carter,

Colonel Doyley

Colonel Fortefcue,

Colonel Buller,

RESOLVED,

THAT it be propofed to general Penn and his officers, that as the land forces do promile never to defert the fleet, general Penn and his offi

сем

11

cers do mutually engage with the land forces not to leave them until their fupplies come, which, if they thould mifcarry, then to transport them back again to England.

That it be propofed to the commiffioners, that large proportions of fhipping be provided to transport the army, left, by pettering the thips, infectious difcafes fhould confume the forces, and fo endanger if not overthrow the defign.

That foldier's wives, who offer to carry their own provifions, may be tranfported, to take care of the fick and wounded men.

That old linen be provided for the chirurgeons.

That we do not march hence under at least twenty ton of ball.

That we have ten ton of match before we march hence.

That, before we part herce, we have from the fleet two thoufand firearms, fix hundred pikes, befides piftols, carbines, and two hundred hal pikes, and that they be presently fent on fhore.

We defired at the fame time copies of the invoices. After long delay, one was delivered, and immediately by Pool borrowed from Mr. Cary, and would never be redelivered till the day we left Barbadoes, were forced to leave it with the commiffioners for prize office there. But of this more hereafter, with Cary his teftimony concerning the fame.

Our ftores not coming, I fent to general Penn to know what arms, shot, and match, he could fpare, (for general Defbrow had affured me and the officers in England that what was in the fleet was and fhould be for the carrying on the fervice and at the commiffioners disposal, and that there was enough to ferve both us and the fleet, for fome good time). He returned me an account of fifteen fhot a man was all he could fpare of his ball, and a few tons of match; but, though he had many hundred pikes in the fleet to fpare, and lances to kill cows, which were for our ufe as well as the fleets, yet we could not get one pike or lance, only fome few half and quarter pikes; wherefore I was neceffitated to fet all hands to work to make half pikes (the timber of that country not being fit for long ones,)

which

« PreviousContinue »