103 



Proclamation of the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. 



Order Book of the Council of State. 

 21 August, 1654, to llf, February, 1655-6. 



[State Papers, Domestic Series, Interregnum, Vol. I 76A. page 152]. 

 Passed by his Hig'. & ye Councell, 10 Oct. 1655. 

 O. P. By the Protector 



A Proclamation giveing encouragement to such as shall transplant 



themselves to Jamaica. 



WHEREAS the Island of Jamaica in America, is by the Providence 

 of God in the hands and possession of this State the enemy 

 which was found upon it, being fled into the mountaines with an 

 intention to escape into other partes save such of them as do daily 

 render themselves to our Comaunder in Cheife there to be disposed 

 of by him and Wee being satisfied of the goodness fertility and com- 

 modiousness for trade and comerce of that Island have resolved by 

 the blessing of God to use our best endeavors to secure and plant 

 the same for which end and purpose Wee have thought it necessary to 

 publish and make knowne unto the people of this Comonwealth and 

 especially to those of the English Islands Plantacons and Colonies in 

 America Our Resolutions and intencons on that behalf e as also to 

 declare unto them the encouragem te which Wee have thought fitt 

 to give unto such as shall remove themselves and their habitations 

 into the aforesaid Island of Jamaica within the time menconed and 

 expressed in these presents And first concerning the secureing 

 thereof against the enemy Wee have already upon the Island which 

 landed there in May last above Six thousand souldiers and the 

 begining of July after Wee sent from hence A Regiment of eight 

 hundred more drawne out of Our old Regiments in England with 

 eight Shipps of Warr besides victuallars to be added to twelve others 

 that were left there by Generall Penn under the comaund of Captaine 

 William Goodson all which are appointed to remaine in those seas for 

 the defence of the said Island and Wee shall from tyme to tyme 

 take care to send thither other both land and sea forces that Wee 

 may have alwaies in those parts such a strength as may be able 

 through the blessing of God to defer. d and secure it against any 

 attempt of the enemy that whereas the Planters in other places have 

 been at great and vast expences at their first sitting downe and in 

 the very begining of their plantacons for their necessary defence as 

 well against the natives of the countrey as other enemyes : Those who 

 shall remove thither wilbe under the imediate protection of this State 

 and so eased both of the danger and charge which other plantations 

 are subject to and shall have for their further encouragem* the termes 

 and conditions following : 



1. Those who shall transport themselves as aforesaid shall have land 

 set forth unto them according to the proportion of Twenty acres besides 

 lakes and rivers for every male of twelve yea res old and upwards and 

 ten acres for every other male or female in some convenient place of 

 the said Island and in case any whole Plantation That is to say the 

 Governors and greatest part of y e people shall remove themselves they 

 shalbe preferred in respect of their place of sitting downe that it may 

 be neare some good harbour commodious for commerce and navi- 

 gation./. 



