C ap. I. 7 he Caribby-Iflaads. i6j 



the ftatc of tW- whole Uland, and himfelf had confider'd what 

 was tfioft expedient for him to do, in order to a more fudden 

 and punctual execution of his Coinmiffion. 



While the Enemy continu'd in this fufpence, and confider'd 

 with himfelf how to compafs his defigns with leaft danger, 

 Defnambuc extreatnly furpriz'd at fb fudden a change, and fb 

 unexpected fuccefs, endeavour'd to comfort his own people;, 

 and to encourage them to exprefs their conftancy in the fup- 

 portingof that mifcarringe. He thereupon took occafion to 

 remonftme to them, That the difgracewas not paft remedy. 3, 

 That it was not to be imagin'd the enemy would flay in the 

 llland fo long as to force all the Inhabitants out of it 5 That he- 

 had affairs of greater weight, which call'd him elfewhere 3 That 

 he would not eafily be drawn into the Forefts, which it was ab- 

 folutely necefiary hefhould pafs through ere he could come in- 

 to his Quarter 5 That they might put themfelves into fuch a po- 

 fture of defence as mould not only give a check to his progrefs, 

 butalfo force him to fignalize his invafion with his own blood } 

 And laftly, that there were in his way fome places fo fortifi'd 

 by Nature, that a few men might force him to find his way 

 back again. 



This advice was very folid, and might have prevail'd fome- 

 'what withthofe to whom it was given, but the terror where- 

 with their fpirirs wereprepofTefs'd, and the confirmation was 

 fo general, that it was not weigh'd as it deferv'd. Thebuli- 

 nefs therefore being taken into deliberation, it was concluded, 

 that the Iflandfhould be deferred, and that the Colony mould 

 tranfp^rt it felf to fome other place which might give lefs occa- 

 fion of jealoufie to the Spaniard, and lye more out of the or- 

 dinary courfe of his Fleets. Defnambuc forefeeing that what 

 pretence fuever might be made tor the taking of .that refoluti- 

 on, it would ftill be chargeable with fomewhat of cowardice 

 and bafenefs, fdchas fhould blaft the opinion conceiv'd of the 

 gallantly of the French, and of a fudden fmother the great 

 hopes which fome had of the advancement of their Colony, 

 could not be perfwaded to give his approbation thereto. How- 

 ever, though he were of a contrary fentiment, that it might 

 not belaid he forfook in fo fad a conjuncture thofe whom he 

 had brought thither through fo many Seas and dangers, he 

 comply'd with their humor, and embarqu'd himfelf with them 

 in certain Ships which chane'd to be in the Haven} and foto 

 avoid a greater diforder, doing his own inclinations a violence, 

 he only afiiir'dthem that hefhould one day reproach them 

 with the little cfteem they made of his remenftrances. 



The Quarters where the Englijh had fetled themfelves were 

 alio in a great diforder ; they had intelligence brought them, 

 that the enemy was become matter of all the Bajfe-terre •■, That 

 he had demolifh'd the Fortrefs of the French, after he had re- 



mov'd 



