next, our Declaration setting forth the justness of this War. I remain, Your loving friend, OLIVER P.* The Declaration here alluded to, of War with Spain, came out on Tuesday, 23d October, 1655; which with sufficient approximation dates this Letter for us. By obscure intimations, allusions to events, and even by recurrence of phrases, the following Letter seems to have the same or a closely subsequent date; but no sense could be made of it till the Address, Major-General Fortescue, at Jamaica' (which, being nonsense, we have to impute to Birch), was erased, was altered, by dim lights and guessings still a little uncertain, as below. LETTER CCV. 'To Daniel Serle, Esquire, Governor of Barbadoes.' SIR, 'Whitehall, October, 1655.' These are first to let you know that myself and the Government reckon ourselves beholden3 to you for the ready expressions of your love in giving assistance to our late Design. Which indeed, though *Thurloe, iv. 130. 1 Ibid. iv. 117; Godwin, iv. 217; Antea, p. 41. 2 Thurloe, iv. 633, &c. &c. 3beholding' in orig.; as the old phrase usually is. Hispaniola: to which Serle, at Barbadoes, had given due further ance, as the Expedition passed. it hath miscarried in what we hoped for, through the disposing hand of God, for reasons best known to Himself, and as we may justly conceive for our sins,-yet is not this Cause the less His, but will be owned by Him, as I verily believe: and therefore we dare not relinquish it; but shall, the Lord assisting, prosecute it with what strength we can, hoping for 'a' blessing for His name's sake. You will receive some Instructions,2 with encouragements to remove your people thither. Whereto I refer you only let me tell you, that if you shall think to desire some other things which are not mentioned in those Instructions, you may' rest upon my word that we shall be most ready to supply what they may be defective in or you may reasonably demand, when once you are upon the place,-where certainly you may be better able to judge what may tend most to your accommodation than at a distance. Surely the sooner you remove thither,3 you will have the more time to strengthen yourself, in such place and upon such part as you shall like of. And for your own part, I have named you one of the Commissioners there for managing of the whole affair; whereby you will have your vote and interest in that Government. Having said this, I think fit to let you know that 1 No! 2 Thurloe, iv. 633-7; worth reading, though in great want of editing. 3 Will mean, if our Addressing of this Letter is correct, that it had at one time been intended and decided to send Serle of Barbadoes, an experienced man, the ablest and principal English Governor in the West Indies, to take charge of Jamaica himself. Which however, in the quick succession of new lights and occurrences, never came to pass. we have Twenty men-of-war already there, and are sending Eight more, many whereof have forty guns and upwards, and the rest above thirty. We hope the Plantation is not wanting in anything; having at the least Seven-thousand fighting-men upon the place and we are providing to supply them constantly with fresh men: and we trust they are furnished with a twelvemonth's victuals;-and I think, if we have it in England, they shall not want. We have also sent to the Colonies of New England like offers with yours,2 To remove thither; our resolution being to people and plant that Island. And indeed we have very good reason to expect considerable numbers from thence, forasmuch as the last winter was very destructive, and the summer hath proved so very sickly. I pray God direct you; and rest, 'OLIVER P.'* Undoubtedly to 'Daniel Serle,' or else to Major-General Sedgwick,' the other of the Four new Commissioners, this Letter must have been addressed. With either of which Addresses it remains historically somewhat obscure; but is legible enough for our purposes with it here. The next seems to be of slightly later date. 'Same phrase in the preceding Letter. 2 Encouragements to them, as to your' Colony, to emigrate thither. * Thurloe, iv. 130. LETTER CCVI. To Major-General Fortescue, at Jamaica. SIR, 'Whitehall, November, 1655,' You will herewith receive Instructions for the better carrying-on of your business; which is not of small account here, though our discouragements have been many; for which we desire to humble ourselves before the Lord, who hath very sorely chastened us. I do commend, in the midst of others' miscarriages, your constancy and faithfulness to your trust in every 'situation' where you are, and your' taking care of a company of poor sheep left by their shepherd:" and be assured that, as that which you have done hath been good in itself, and becoming an honest man, so it hath a very good savour here with all good Christians and all true Englishmen, and will not be forgotten by me as opportunity shall serve. 2 I hope you have long before this time received that good supply which went from hence in July last,3 whereby you will perceive that you have not been forgotten here. I hope also the ships sent for New England are, before this time, with you: 4-and let me tell you, as an encouragement to you and those with you to 1 Word torn. 2 Fortescue's own expression: in a Letter of 21 July, 1655 (Thurloe, iii. 675). 3 Vaughan, i. 303; Thurloe, iv. 4. 4 Thurloe, iv. 157; one, the first of them, did arrive, Nov. 1st: sent from Jamaica to New England for provisions.' improve the utmost diligence, and to excite your courage in this business, though not to occasion any negligence in prosecuting that affair, nor to give occasion to slacken any improvement of what the place may afford, That you will be followed with what necessary supplies, as well for comfortable subsistence as for your security against the Spaniard, this place may afford, or you want. And therefore study first your security by fortifying: and although you have not moneys, for the present, to do it in such quantities as were to be wished; yet, your case being as that of a marching army, wherein every soldier, out of principles of nature, and according to the practice of all discipline, ought to be at pains to secure the common quarter, we hope no man amongst you will be so wanting to himself, considering food is provided for you, as not to be willing to help to the uttermost therein. And therefore I require you and all with you, for the safety of the whole, that this be made your most principal intention. The doing of this will require that you be very careful not to scatter, till you have begun a security in some one place. - Next I desire you you that you would consider how to form such a Body of good Horse as may, if the Spaniard should attempt upon you at his next coming into the Indies with his Galeons, be in a readiness to march to hinder his landing; who will hardly land upon a body of horse; and if he shall land, you will' be in a posture to keep the provisions of the country from him, or him from the provisions, if he shall endeavour to march towards you. We have sent Commissioners and Instructions into |