The state of the Spaniards in this Island,

The Spaniards first setled on the North-west part of the Isle,* under the Conduct of Columbus, and built the Town of Mellila, but disliking Page  44 the Scituation, removed to Orista∣na; and finding that also to be ill seated, and unhealthful, again re∣moved, and setled at St. Jago, or St. Jago de la vega, where, with the assistance of the Indians, they built a fair Town or City, which I have already treated of. And in this Town Inhabited all the Spani∣ards that were in the Isle at the Landing of the English, keeping their slaves at their several small Plantations, or Stanchas, who fail∣ed not to bring them store of Fruits & Provisions, which they luxurious∣ly spent in their houses, never in∣tending any thing but to live at ease and plenty:* For on this large and fertile Island, there was no Manu∣facture or Commodity made, except a little Sugar, Tabacco, and Cocao, and those few Ships that came hi∣ther, traded generally for Hydes, Page  45 Tallow, Jamaica Pepper, and Cocao, but not to any considerable ac∣count. And the number of In∣habitants did not exceed 3000, of which, half (if not more) were Slaves. And the reason why it was so thinly peopled, was, be∣cause the Spaniards generally de∣sire to be in Nova Hispana, or His∣paniola; but chiefly, because this Isle was held▪ in proprietership, by the heirs of the Duke of Veragua-Columbus, who received the Re∣venues, and placed Governours, as absolute Lord of it. And at the first, it was planted by a kind of Por∣tugals, the society of whom, the Spaniards abhors.

Upon the approach of the En∣glish-Army after their landing, the Inhabitants of St. Jago deserted the Town, and betook themselves to the Mountains, pretending a Page  46 Treaty with the English, untill such time as they had secured their Wo∣men and Goods, and then did they make several attempts, and upon surprisals, murthered many of the English; but the Spaniards soon growing weary of that wild and mountainous course of Life, per∣ceiving small hopes of expelling the English, divers of the Grandees got into Cuba, who by the Vice-Roy of Alexico's order, were com∣manded back, with a promise of a speedy and considerable supply of men; upon which they returned, somwhat encouraged, and disper∣sed themselves by Families, that they might the better get provisi∣ons, and avoid the being discover∣ed by the English; but this necessi∣tous and unusual course of life, kil∣led many of them, and discouraged the rest; for that in all this time Page  47 there came to their succour, but too Souldiers, and those refused to joyn with them, as being so few and sickly; so that they marched back to the North of the Island, and at a place called St. Chereras, did fortify themselves, every day expecting a new body of Men to joyn with them: But the English discovering their quarters, march∣ed against them. Some few months after, about 30 small Companies of the Spanish Forces arrives, and immediately very strongly Fortify Rio Nova, having Ordnance, and great store of Ammunition, yet were they speedily and succesfully defeated by the Valour of the En∣glish under the Conduct of Leiute∣nant General Edw. D'oyley. And this grand disaster, with many pet∣ty ill successes caused the Spaniards to dispair of regaining the Island, Page  48 and to ship off most of their Plat•• and Women; and the Negroes find∣ing the greatest part of their Ma∣sters to be dead, killed the Gover∣nour, and declined all obedience to the Spaniards, appointing a Black for their Governour. And such was the necessity of the Spaniards, that instead of giving them fitting correction, they were constrained to Court them for their assistance; but all their policy would not pre∣vail upon them, for soon after did they submitt to the English Gover∣ment, and made discoveries of the Spaniards and Negroes that would not come in with them, and did further assist the English in the ta∣king of them, in which they have been exceeding succesful.

In the year following, the Spa∣niards quite deserted the Island, except it were about 30 or 40 of Page  49 their Slaves, who betook them∣selves to the Mountaines, but be∣ing afraid of a Discovery, and to be pursued to Death for some Mur∣thers they had committed, built themselves Conoas, and in them fled to Cuba, and never since hath any considerable attempt been made upon them.

The English being thus become Masters of the Island, formed them∣selves into a Body, or Colony: Then did they they begin to set∣tle themselves in Plantations, whilst others betook themselves to the Sea as Freebooters or Pri∣vateers, the better to secure them∣selves against the Spaniards, and force them to a peace by their frequent annoying them, in seizing such their ships which they could meet with, which proved very succesful unto them. And this Page  50 caused the Isle to be much talked of, and had in esteem by the Eng∣lish, who sent them supplies of Men, Provisions, and necessaryes. And thus by little and little it be∣came to be so potent as now it is.