The Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell (Volume 2) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1904. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... 'Governor of Barbadoes,1 and Major-General Sedgwick' new from England, made Commissioners, with Instructions,2 with full power over Jamaica, --and then read. LETTER CCIV Vice-admiral Goodson, as his title indicates, went out as second under Penn; whose place he now fills as chief. Letters of his in Thurloe indicate a thick blunt stout-hearted sailor character, not nearly so stupid as he looks; whose rough piety, sense, stoicism, and general manfulness grow luminous to us at last. The Protector hopes 'the Lord may have blessed Goodson to have lighted upon some of the Enemy's vessels, and burnt them;'--which is a hope fulfilled: for Goodson has already been at St. Martha on the Spanish Main, and burnt it; but got few 'ships, ' nor any right load of plunder either; the people having had him in sight for six hours before landing, and run away with everything to the woods. He got' thirty brass guns and two bases, ' whatever these are. The rest of the plunder, being 'accurately sold at the mast of each ship' by public auction, yielded just 471/. sterling, which was a very poor return. At the Rio de Hacha ('Rio de hatch' as we here write it) 'the bay was so shoal' no great ships could get near; and our 'hoys' and small craft, on trying it, saw nothing feasible; wherefore we had drawn back again. Santa Martha, and plunder sold by auction to the amount above stated, was all we could get.3 To Vice-Admiral Goodson, at Jamaica Whitehall, 'October 30] 1655.'4 Sir, I have written to Major-General Fortescue divers advertisements of our purpose and resolution, the Lord 1 In Serle's case, it was a re-appointment, as he had been one of the former Commissioners.] a Given in Thurloe, iv. 634. 'Goodson's Letter, in ibid., iv. 159 et seqq. 4 This letter is dated by Vice-Admiral Good.