ijo HISTORY OF THE [BOOK. n. 



CHAPTER II. 



vindicated, for attacking the. Spaniards in 1655. 

 Their cruelties in the West Indies, in contravention of the 

 treaty of 1630. Proposals offered by Modi/ford and Gage. 

 Forcible arguments of the latter. Secretary Thurloe's 

 account of a conference with the Spanish Ambassador. 

 Cromwell's demand of satisfaction rejected. State of Ja- 

 maica on its capture. 



"^HERE is no portion of the English annals, in 

 the perusal of which greater caution is requi- 

 site, than the history of the administration of the pro- 

 tector Cromwell. The prejudices of party, which, in 

 common cases, are lost in the current of time, have 

 floated down to us in full strength against this pro- 

 sperous usurper j and his actions, from the period that 

 he reached the summit of power, are still scrutinized 

 with industrious malignity ; as if it were impossible 

 that authority irregularly acquired, could be exercised 

 with justice. 



It is not strange therefore, that the vigorous pro- 

 ceedings of the Protector against the Spanish nation, 

 in 1655, should have been obnoxious to censure, or 

 that writers of very opposite political principles should 

 concur in misrepresenting his conduct on that occasion. 



