§0 The Introduction. 



The Rovers being now pretty flroiig, they con- 

 fulted together about getting ibme Place of Re- 

 treat, where they might lodge their Wealth, clean 

 mid repair their Ships, and make themlelv^s a kind 

 oi Abode. They were not long in refolvingj but 

 fixed upon the Ifland of PrGvidencCy the moft confi- 

 4erable of the Bahama Iflands, lying in the Lati-- 

 tude of about 24 Degrees North, andtotheEaft- 

 ward of the Spamjh Florida. 



This Ifland is about 28 Miles long, and eleven 

 where broadeft, and has a Harbour big enough to 

 hold 500 Sail of Ships ^ before which lies a Imall 

 Ifland, which makes two Inlets to the Harbour • at 

 either Way there is a Bar, over which no Ship of 

 500 Tun can pafs. The Bahama l^znds v^^xe pol- 

 iefs'd by the EngUjl) till the Year 1700, when the 

 French and Spaniards from Petit Guavus^ invaded them, 

 took the Fort and Governor in the Ifland of Pro- 

 vidence^ plundered and deftroyM the Settlements, &c. 

 carried olf half the Blacks, and the refl: of the 

 People, who fled to the Woods, retired afterwards 

 to Carolina. 



In March 1705-5, the Houfe of Lords did in 

 an Addrefs to her lateMajefty, fet forth, ^ That the 



* French and Spaniards had twice, during the Time 

 ^ of the War, over run and plundered the Bahama 

 ^ Iflands, that there was no Form of Government 



* there : That the Harbour of the Ifle of providence^ 

 ^ might be eafily put in a Pofture of Defence, and 

 ^ that it would be of dangerous Confequence, lliould 

 ^ thofe Iflands fall into the Hands of the Enemy ^ 

 ^ wherefore the Lords humbly befbught her Ma- 



* jefty to ufe fuch Methods as fl^ie fliould think 

 ^ proper for taking the faid Ifland int^ her Hands, 

 ^ in order to fecure the llime to the Crown of this 

 ^ Kingdom, and to the Security and Advantage 

 ^ of the Trade thereof. 



But, 



