28 



TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



since has remained a British possession. This did 

 not, however, check the depredations of the bucca- 

 neers, but on the contrary, for a time at least — 

 during the whole of Cromwell's protectorate— they 

 seemed rather to increase than diminish their hardi- 

 hood, and love of adventure gave additional impetus 

 to their depredations, for we find in later years the 

 Governors of Jamaica being by turns free-booter 

 and Governor, sometimes with authority sometimes 

 without. 



" To dominate the Spanish trade routes was 

 one of the principal objects of England's policy in 

 the West Indies. This purpose is reflected in all 

 CromwelFs instructions to the leaders of the Jamai- 

 can design, and it appears again in his instructions 

 of 10th October, 1655 to Major-General Portescue 

 and Vice-Admiral Goodson. Fortescue was given 

 power and authority to land men upon territory 

 claimed by the Spaniards, to take their forts, castles, 

 and places of strength, and to pursue, kill and des- 

 troy all opposed to him. The Vice-Admiral was to 

 assist him with his sea forces and to use his best en- 

 deavours to seize all ships belonging to the King of 

 Spain or his subjects in America." 



For many years after this, until a better under- 

 standing was established between England and 

 Spain, this state of things continued. They were 

 peculiar times, and hence the mentioning of these 

 incidents will, in a future chapter, show their rela- 

 tionship to after events in Trinidad. The subject is 

 very fascinating and one would like to linger over it, 



