ROBERT VENABLES. XVll 



A serjeant also, who in the skirmish threw down 

 his arms, crying, "gentlemen, shift for yourselves, we 

 are all lost ;" and ran away, was hanged. Other offen- 

 ces met with meet punishments. 



Now the business was, to consult what was next 

 to be done. Commissioner Winslow came ashore to 

 press for a third attempt, which the officers of the army 

 would not be persuaded to undertake ; for they all, with 

 one consent, declared they would not lead on their men, 

 saying, they would never be got to march up to that 

 place again; or if they did, they would not follow them 

 to a charge, but they freely offered to regiment them- 

 selves, and to live and die together. Whereupon, the 

 Commissioners judging it needful to try to raise the 

 soldiers by some success in a smaller exploit, resolved 

 to attempt some other plantation, and at last Jamaica 

 was pitched on to be the place. 



During this debate, the soldiers on land were in 

 great want and streights; for though all their provision 

 was spent, yet Penn forbade any supply to be sent them 



be, having two wives in England, and standing guilty of forgery; all 

 which I desired Major-General Worsley in joining with me to ac- 

 qnaint his Highness (Cromwell) with, that he might be taken off, and 

 not suffered to go with me, lest he should bring a curse on us, as I 

 feared. But his Highness would not hear us. After this, both per- 

 jury and forgery were proved against him, in the case of a Colonel or 

 General, at Barbadoes, ruined by him, by that means. Upon the 

 complaint, and with the advice of the said General, I rebuked him 

 privately ; which he took so distastely, that as it afterwards appeared, 

 he studied and endeavoured nothing but mutiny; and found fit matter 

 to work upon, as with an army that has neither pay nor pillage, arms 

 nor ammunition, nor victuals, is not difficult: but this I came to un- 

 derstand afterwards." VENABLES' Narrative. 



