Читать книгу The Life of Sir Henry Morgan. With an account of the English settlement of the island of Jamaica онлайн

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Beeston states the date of Morgan's return to Port Royal as being "about the seventeenth of August"; his report, made by Modyford's command, bears the date of September 7, and on October 1, the governor wrote a covering letter of considerable length on the subject to the Duke of Albemarle. About a year before he had received a letter from that Minister giving a cautiously worded approval of his conduct in the employment of privateers, dated the 2nd of February, 1667.

"And for your giving commissions to the privateers (against the Spaniards)," he wrote, "I think you have done pursuant to your own instructions and orders sent you, until there shall be some other alternative of these orders."[146]

Modyford reported that since his last letter "the privateers have had the confidence to take two towns from the Spaniards, for which being reproved, having commissions only against their ships, they presented the enclosed declaration", which he wished that the King might see.

"It is most certain", he added by way of apology, "that the Spaniards had full intention to attempt this island, but could not get men; and they still hold the same minds, and therefore I cannot but presume to say that it is very unequal that we should in any measure be restrained while they are at liberty to act as they please upon us, from which we shall never be secure until the King of Spain acknowledges this island to be his Majesty's and so includes it by name in the capitulations. I am very confident also of the revolt of the Indians on the main, and will send all the privateers to gain certain advice thereof that if need be they may improve that revolt."