A narrative of the great success God hath been pleased to give His Highness forces in Jamaica, against the King of Spains forces; together with a true relation of the Spaniards losing their plate-fleet, as it was communicated in a letter from the Governour of Jamaica. Published by His Highness special command.

Right Honourable,

SInce my last to Your Honour, the First of October last, I have had in∣telligence, that the Galleons with Plate, I then mentioned to be at Car∣thagena, bound for Spain, were cast away by a Hirecane; and as an evident token thereof, the Burmudans, our Informants, being in a small Shallop, brought in hither about Twenty thousand pieces of Eight, which they had taken in the Rack. And according to my former to the Committee for Jamaica, having by a Prisoner notice, that about Five hundred of the Enemy were landed here, and that the Governour Don Christopher Arnaldo Sasser was fortifying himself at St. Anne, about Thirty five miles from us, I was re∣solved to give him time to fortisie so much, that he might think himself secure enough to stand us, (that we might not perpetually be put to the toyl of hunting them in the Woods) and yet so that he might not be able to give us any strong resist∣ance: which accordingly being done, I sent a Party of Stout, Well and Willing men, under the command of Major Richard Steevens, to whom about Sixty of our Officers joyned, Volunteers, ex∣ceedingly

desirous of action (after so long a cessa∣tion) who advanced to the place, very strongly sci∣tuated on a Rock: as soon as the Enemies Centi∣nels discovered them, they threw down their Arms, gave the Allarm to the Governour, who with the rest fled to the Woods, leaving behinde them all their Arms and Ammunition: so, finding the vanity of following them in the Woods and Mountains, we left them.

Before our Party came in, our Ships brought in a Portugal running in to Cuba, who examined, told me that there were Five hundred landed about the middle of July, that they had marched up the Countrey, and finding the scarcity of proviosions, (contrary to what was told them) were almost star∣ved, had endeavoured to mutiny; and that about Three hundred of them were by the Spanish Com∣manders returned to a place called the Chareras, in the North, over against Cuba, where they first landed, where was their Magazine, and Provisions, and more men and Provisions dayly expected, where likewise they were fortified and received their relief, which he had Twice carried them.

Upon this intelligence, I met the Party coming home, and dismissing about a hundred to their Plantations, (which wanted them) I shipped the rest under the same command, on Board the Indian, and went my self with them for the better carry∣ing on and expediting the business.

The 24 of October we set Sail from Cagway. point, and the 30 stood over against the place. Ear∣ly in the morning we spied a Sail from Cuba, run∣ing

in to the place we were bound for, who had come with relief, but told them he could not un∣lade himself, because he saw Ships at Sea. Our Party landed Six miles below the place intended, there being no place nearer, and marcht on; who ere they had marched Two miles, were saluted with a round Volley out of a Wood, at which ours, pre∣pared for before by their Orders, never made stand, but fired in boldly at the Ambuscado, in which the Enemy had Four wounded, we One; the Captain with the rest made hast to their Fort, and ours so fast after them, that onely the Cap∣tain, and Four of forty could get in.

Our Party found them very well prepared with Matches lighted in the Stockadoes, (for that is the manner of their fortification, with great Trees and Flankers) ours leaving a Third for a reserve, with∣out any gradual approaches, presently ran up to their Work, and with their Musquets possest as much advantage, as the Enemy, (the Work be∣ing not at all Lined) between whom for the space of near Three quarters of an hour, was a stiff dis∣pute, till some of ours with the help of Hatchets, (which they were ordered to carry) made a Breach, and entred; as soon as the Enemy saw that, they betook themselves to run over the Rocks, leaping into the Sea, and shifting for themselves (though the Officers endeavoured to rally them) yet made not such hast, but that they left One hundred and twenty, or thereabouts dead on the place, and many wounded, amongst whom were most of the Officers; the Mastre del Campe Don Francis De

Prencia, by means of a Prisoner of ours, whom he kept by him, got quarter, and some others whom we found in the Rocks, (whom though we had received barbarous usage from them) we could not kill in cool blood.

We took here Thirty three Barrels of Powder, with Match and Bullet proportionable, and good store of Bread and Salt, and likewise their Mu∣sters, their Commissaries book; which Powder, and what we took before from the Governour, within less then Two Barrels did ballance the Commissaries Accompt, so that they were wholly deprived of that: And that which did more indear our Success; we had onely Four men killed, and a∣bout Ten wounded, some whereof I have sent home, and humbly and earnestly desire they may be provided for.

After I had refresht the men, I put them aboard again, and with small Parties in several little Boats, Scoured all the Coast, and left them that fled nei∣ther Boats not time to get away; since which time some are come in to us almost starved. The Ne∣groes, formerly their Slaves, using them roughly, and denying them Provisions, so that I saw a Let∣ter from Don Francis de Liva, the Deputy-Gover∣nour, to one of his former Slaves, wofully bemoan∣ing the condition of his Majesties Infantry, and giving him the Title of Worship at every word: to such a necessity are they reduced, and we have not been idle to pursue them in all quarters, though we now lie still for want of Shooes, if there should any more of the Enemy come,

which we have reason to expect; for that I finde by Letters, that the Governour of Cuba, Don Pe∣ter de Bayona, being an old Souldier in Italy, doth not onely heartily solicite it, but makes a great be∣nefit by it, having received money from the Vice Roy, for the payment of Three Moneths to the Souldiers, according to their Kings express com∣mand, whereof they never received any; and since that, hath received Twenty thousand pieces of Eight from the Vice Roy for levying more men. I shall not fail in my endeavours to prepare for their coming, and doubt not, but that the King of Spains lessening his Garrisons, may in time pro∣duce good effect to our Nation.

I have sent the Mastre del Campe, the Colours, some Paper and Letters; he is the onely man here∣abouts, and hath chiefly advised in this relief, and therefore I hope shall not be released till we are better setled. I had almost forgot to acquaint your Honour, that the Enemy at their first coming, sent a Lieutenant, and two more, to scatter Papers amongst our Souldiers; signifying, that who would come to them, should have fair quarter and transport; who being met withall by some of our Hunters, were all kil'd, and so that hopefull de∣sign of theirs had no effect: And that the Gover∣nour of Porto Rico, having set One hundred men to demand some English, living in new Iurtola, a Coloney of the Dutch, being refused to have them delivered up, was in his return cast away by the Hericane, one onely Mulatto escaped. The King of Spains Affairs do very much fail in these parts,

and his Trade is almost brought to nothing, by the many Private Men of War of English and French, and ours are still abroad to annoy them.

All I have more is, onely to intreat your Ho∣nour, and all our Friends with us, to magnifie the goodness of God, who hath given yet by his glim∣mering, some hopes, that he altogether hath not forgotten us, but doth, and will at length conti∣nue to own his Servants, who trust in him, and to subscribe my self,

Your most Obedient and Faithfull Servant, Edward Doyley.

Cagway. Feb. 3. 1657.

FINIS.