462 A. D. 1655. 



with fhlps and troops from England, the Spaniards, after fundry con- 

 flicts, were obliged to abandon the ifland entirely. Wht.a this conqiicfl 

 was firft undertaken, the Spaniards at Jamaica did not exceed 1500 prr- 

 fons in number, with about as inany negros. Columbus in the year 

 1494 found it a pleafunt and populous ifland ; but the Spaniards are 

 faid (even by their own authors to have put to dearh no fewer than 

 60,000 of the natives of that ifland, and rooted out the remainder be- 

 fore the Englifli conquered it. 



Simon de CafFeres alfo laid before the protedor the following 

 fcheme, viz. 



* With four men of war only, and four fliips with provifions, ammu- 

 nition, and I ceo foldiers., to fail into the South fea, round Cape 

 Horn, and fo pafling by Baldivia in Chili, (from which port the Spa- 

 niards had long bef )re been driven) the kingdom of Chili m'ght be 

 conquered from Spain. Our people to rendezvous at the ifle of La 

 Mocha, where they might vidlual and water, as there were none but 

 Indians there ; and as Chili abounds more with gold and pro\ ilions 

 than any other part of America, and has a wholelome climate ; as 

 moreover the Chilians are the mofl: warlike of any American people, 

 and are mortal foes to the Spaniards, by reafon of their former cruel- 

 ties, they probably would gladly fide with any people inchnable to 

 drive the Spaniards quite out of their country. That if this projedt 

 fliould fucceed, it would diftrefs Spain in the mofl: fenfible and leaft- 

 guarded part. That the fliips of war above mentioned would lerve to 

 ieize on the Spanifli treafure going annually from Chili to Arica, and 

 thence by Lima and '- uyaquil, to Panama, and lo o\er land to 

 Porto-Bello in the Weft-Indies, as well as to ieize on the two yearly 

 rich Acapulco fliips. Cafteres for thefe purpofes undertook to engage 

 in Holland fome of thofe v/ho went in Brouwer's expedition agamfl: 

 Baldivia.' \\thiirloe, V. iv,p. 62.] Neverthelels this, like all our for- 

 mer propofed expeditions into the South fea, was not tound likely to 

 anfwer : partly on account of the great dangers in a moft tempeftuous 

 ocean; the inconftancy of the climate when there; and the aimoft in-- 

 fuperable difficulties which would be occafioned by bemg quite out of 

 the reach of friendly ports. 



Cromwell appointed his ion Richard, with many lords of his council, 

 judges, and gentlemen, and about twenty merchants of London, York, 

 Newcaftle, Yarmouth, Dover, &c. to meet and confider b^ what means 

 the traffic and navigation of the republic migtit be beft promoted and 

 regulated, and to report, &c. * [^Thu/loe, V. iv,/. 177. J 



* A letter from t'ne Hague in the year 1653 ' glad to fee, that it was only nomiral. So that 

 lias the following remark upon a former committee : ' vvc hope, in time thnje of London ivill forget that 

 ' A committee for trade was fome time fince ereft- * ever they tvere merchants' \ffhurloe, V \, p. 498. J 

 ' cd in England, which, we then feared, would have On fome oci alions tins it vtre remark tias beea r«- 

 ' proved very prejudicial to our ftatc ; but we arc tl;tr too mucli veriticd. y/. 



