HISTORY OE THE [BOOK n, 



forts in raising Indian corn, cassavi, tobacco, and ca- 

 cao, had given encouragement to a spirit of planting. 

 The arrival of several merchant ships, for the purpose 

 of traffic, contributed still further to the promotion 6f 

 industry, and, on the whole, the dawn of future pro- 

 sperity began to be visible. 



But, as hath been truly observed by a well inform- 

 ed author,* nothing contributed so much to the set- 

 tlement and opulence of this island in early times, as 

 the resort to it of those men called bueaniers; the 

 wealth which they acquired having been speedily 

 transferred to people whose industry was employed 

 in cultivation or commerce. Of that singular associa- 

 tion of adventurers it were to be wished, that a more 

 accurate account could be obtained than has hitherto 

 been given: I will just observe in this place, that such 

 of them as belonged to Jamaica were not those pira- 

 tical plunderers and public robbers which they are 

 commonly represented. A Spanish war, commenced 

 on the justest grounds on the part of the English, still 

 prevailing in the West Indies, they were furnished 

 with regular letters of marque and reprisal. After 

 the restoration of Charles II. the king ordered that 

 they should receive every encouragement and protec- 

 tion ' y nor, if we may believe Sir William Beeston,+ 

 did his majesty disdain to become a partner in the 

 bucaniering expeditions. It is indeed related, that he 

 continued to exact and receive a share of the booty. 



* Euiopean Settlements. 

 ',- MS. Journal fwes me. 



