ROBERT VENABLES. VH 



fell too. Which surely was a great oversight in the 

 Commissioners who refused, for by this means they 

 would have soothed and pleased the army with a fair 

 flourish, but in reality had by common consent ob- 

 tained the whole to be at their own disposal. 



Then the Commissioners propounding a fort- 

 night's pay to the soldiery instead of the pillage of St. 

 Domingo, the chief city of Hispaniola, Venables pre- 

 vailed with them to be content with six weeks pay. 

 But when that would not be yielded to by the Commis- 

 sioners, he requested the officers and soldiers, without 

 standing on any terms, to venture their lives with him, 

 and trust to Providence for the issue and reward; 

 which they agreed unto for that time, but withal many 

 of them declared they would never strike stroke more, 

 where there should be commissioners thus to controul 

 the general and soldiers, but would forthwith return 

 for England. 



By this time they drew near to Hispaniola ; the 

 land general and officers were for running the fleet into 

 the harbour of St. Domingo, but they of the fleet op- 

 posed it, Penn assured them there was a bomb which 

 would hinder their advance; though Cox, being called 

 in, said he believed there was none, yea, declared among 

 the soldiers, that he conceived the harbour was incapa- 

 ble of any thing of that kind. During the debate 

 about this matter, Captain Crispin, who commanded a 

 frigate, offered to venture the running in of his vessel 

 into the harbour, and bore up so near as to fire on the 

 castle of St. Domingo, and discovered nothing of any 



