Chap. XVI. 



vf M £ 7^1 C J. 



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I 



Commander, who upon their firft arrival here committed fuch horrid Cruelties 

 and Maflacres, that (as the fore-mention'd Bartbolonteo de las Cafas writes) five thou- 

 fand Inhabitants were in a fliort time redue'd to lefs than three hundred, multitudes 

 being put to death in a moft inhumane and barbarous manner, fome roafted alive, 

 others torn in pieces by the Spanijh Dogs, befides many other ftudied ways of But- 

 chery, too dreadful to be read with patience ; nor were they free from Civil War 

 amongft themfelves, which firft began in this Ifland. 



The firft and onely Attempters upon this Ifland fince the Spaniards made them. Attcm P « of 

 felves Matters thereof, have been the Englijh, who in the Year 1592. under the Con- m>otf"h!f 

 duft of Sir Anthony Shirley Landed upon it, & got clear pofleffion thereof,nonc of the 

 Spanifrds that were then upon the Place daring to make the lead refiftance j but not 

 thinjeing it worth the keeping, they foon deferted it, and made Sail back again for 

 England : after which they remain'd unmolefted for a long time, till in the Year 

 1 6^4. a Fleet of EnglijI? was fet out for Hifpaniolaby Cromwell, under the Command 

 of Colonel ^enables, with a Dcfignfor the taking of St. Domingo ; but meeting with 

 illfuccefs in the Enterprize, and being fore'd to quit that Ifland with lofs of Mea, 

 atyl fruftration of their hopes, they fteer'd their Courfe for Jamaica, and on the 

 tehth of May in the Year abovefaid, with little oppofition poiTefs'd themfelves of it. 

 on their approach to St. Jago the Inhabitants thereof deferted it, and betook 

 era to the Mountains, gaining time by a pretence of Treaty, to fecure their Wx>- 

 en and Goods - y and oftentimes making Incurfions upon the ftraglina Parties of 

 cEngltJb, flew and took many Prifoners by furprize: but being weary of this 

 ild and irregular kind of living, they betake themfelves at laftto the Ifleof Cuba, 

 inhere many of them, the Grandees efpecially, were permitted by favour to con. 

 trtnue, the reft being by the Vice.Roy commanded back, with promife of fpeedy 

 ajnd confiderable Supplies ; by that time this remnant of the Spaniards was near 

 t] r'd out with hardfhip and neceflity, fome being very much difcourag'd and driven 

 t( > utter defpondence of Mind, others deftroy'd out-right, part of the longpromis'd 

 imd expefted Supply arrives, the greateft part being to follow foon after; but 



finding 



