Note: The Commis­sioners of the Admiraltie, Navie, and Purse of this Nation know best with cer­tainly what this Expedition and incident Charge hath cost, but of other judici­ous men its generally judged to be about two Millions of li. sterling. 1. THe vast and inevitable charges of setting forth the Flects, the conti­nual pay of Seamen and Soldiers, with supplies that must be sent, till the Conclusion of the Voyage, which is like to be dilated.

2. Whether in times of so much unsettlement, this Common-wealth can spare so many Ships and Seamen, which in great part are the security of the Land, to go so farre off from whence they cannot be occasionally had home again upon necessitie, England being surrounded with so Note: What an opportunitie did this Nation lose, in not humbling the Hollander, so as that he might never have thwarted our interest again, as ever since he bath done, and now Grives for the Mastery in Power and Commerce. And as we then stood we might have had our own termes with France, Spain, and all others, and how different our condition now is may be discerned.many considerable Potentates, and they for the most part in affecti­on adversaries, which upon all opportunities of advantage, will injure us, notwithstanding any ca­pitulations to the contrary, and the States Power being formidable, and at hand, will still awe them to a better Compliance.

[Page 2] 3. They go to a place where they must not only fight men upon disadvantages, the scituations helping still the inhabitants in Countreys that Note: How was our Army beaten by a few despicable Mongrel-Spaniards, Shepherds and Blacks, that way-laid them in places of advantage, through which they were to march.have not commodious Ports of disembarking an Army, and diffi­cult wayes to march, but which is worse, with a Climate not at all suiting with our English consti­tutions, particularly of Soldiers, which may be justly feared will sweep away the greater part of them that go; more especially, if Provisions come to decay, or lose of their natural Note: Most of the Soldiery, and many Seamen perisht for want of Provisions, or eating such as was spoil't, and not agreeing with the Climate.vertue, as they are subject to do in such extraordinary heats as they must there meet with, and liquor being the chief, is not to be had at all times in an enemies territories, and ships being thronged with people, diseases will en­crease and endanger all, then those seas and aire with the piercing Sun, will destroy our English and Dutch-built ships both in Hull and Tackling, Note: Some of the Ships were lost, and the rest came home in a decayed, tot­tering condition, whose repairs was sufficiently chargeable.more in a moneths time, then in our own Northern Climates in a year, beside the worm that eats un­der-water, will render them inca­pable of future-service.

4. In case of a repulse, (to which all attempters are subject) in an enemies dominions, and so distant from relief, which will daunt many a swelling spirit, this Common-wealth will be Involv'd out of honour and interest to a second engagement, Note: Beside, our Army being so dishonour­ably repulft▪ and dispirited at Sancto Domingo, what supplies of men and other necessaries have, to little purpose, been since sent to Jamaica, is rather felt then duely considered, or rightly known.that must be more costly, and necessarily burthen the subject, which will be the more resented, when successe thwarts the great expectations first entertained of the design, for undoubtedly the enemies so long time of adver­tisement, will give them time [Page 3] to provide largely for defence, and retire with their riches to inaccessible places, which must render the bu­sinesse more difficult, and peradventure altogether fruit­lesse, and of disrepute.

5. Let it be granted, that the place intended be sur­prized, yet before it can be put in a thriving way, what an endlesse treasure must be disbursed, beside the losse of men and shipping, and 'tis questionable whether ever the benefit from thenee will pay it again, these designes pro­mising great matters, but in effect come to nothing, we have the example in hand of New-England, Barbadoes, Christophers, &c. Note: The successe we had in the In­dia's fully answers this parti­cular.the first Planters whereof were all undone, and yet they were void lands, purchast without the price of blood, and little expence of money, and the Proceedings of the Holland West- India Company in Brazil, may be pettinently recited, which have not only been baffled by their enemies, but outed of more wealth then ever they had from thence, the sea reprizals set aside, but here is hope of silver and gold mines; it may so fall out, that there are such, which yet is doubtful, give it for granted, and let attention be had to the trouble in bringing them to perfection, and the extraordinary expences upon slaves and other people that must work in them, with the materials requisite to such a task, and it will appear that we have Note: By our traffick, Manufactories, and employment of our shipping, were we furnish't with the India-silver.easier, and more profitable wayes to draw into England that treasure, and if accounts were deliberately made up, it would be found that the King of Spain himself is not such a great Gainer by the India's, as many in the world have conceived, though he have all in possession.

6. It were to be wished, that the people allotted for this attempt, or others in their room were rather appli­ed to Ireland, and more near Plantations, which would not only bring greater gaines to this Government, then any place they can possesse in the India's, but also be [Page 4] formidable, to assist in any honourable atchievments near at home, that may in time be thought requisite.

7. And if we must have to do at the India's, let a more opportune time be waited for, which may be at any other better then now, for the Spaniard seeing that we proceed not, will grow carelesse, and our ships being already sheathed, and warlike Provisions Note: The Merchants of this Nation lost in the yeare 1655. by the Spa­nish Imbargo: which was made by reason of this Fleets Proceeding to the India's, above 500000 li. sterling, to the ruining of many able men and their families.fitted, may insensibly be put forth to fall upon them, when not so warned, and consequently armed, as at present they are, and Mer­chants, though not made fully ac­quainted with the intentions of States, may moderate and draw home their adventures in the In­terim, and a yeares possession more or lesse of the places intended, cannot import by too great a quantity what may be lost, in that the Merchants of this Common-wealth have trade in all the dominions of Spain, and great estates there depending, that cannot be so suddenly withdrawn, the entercourse having been of long conti­nuance, that hath contracted many debts, and occasioned the transmission of goods for sales, from one place to an­other, yea, many to the very India's, though in Spani­ards names, all which will undoubtedly be seized on, if this Fleet fall upon any of that Kings territories, and will be of farre more value then is to be feared will be had from the India's in many years: and to him will prove a good Exchange, to have so many ready effects for his present occasions, in stead of an Island that yields him little or nothing of revenue.

8. Falling out with that people, the greater part of our Manufactory here must cease, whereof that Countrey vents more then any other Nation with whom we have Commerce, which will deprive a great number of poor Tradesmen of livelihood, and this Commonwealth of its Custom and Excise of all Commodities exported hence, and brought from other places of those dominions, some [Page 5] whereof do in a yeares time pay the greater parts of their value, if not the whole, to this State, as can easily be made manifest, and with those Ma­nufactories comes into this Nations Note: Much of our Manufactory hath ceased for want of vent to our Commodities in Spain, and the scarcity of coine in the Nation, in part bespeaks this truth.possession, a great part of the Plate that arrives from the India's, for which this Common-wealth is nei­ther at charge nor hazard: and men are enabledto undergo the bur­then of taxes, &c. but if trade faile, their estates must de­cay, and be inabilitated to contribute towards the main­tenance of Fleets and Armies, which are so charge­able.

Doubtlesse his Highnesse will have deeply weighed what businesse may be undertaken▪ especially of such importance, yet Note: Was not the Jesuites hand in this designe, aiming at the ruine of our Fleets and men, with the disrepute of the Nation, and indeed its to be ad­mired that such a Conduct should be committed to a person that had never been out of England, and scarce heard of, much lesse experimented, what People and Countrey he was to deal with in America.forasmuch as this is a matter that falls not into the reach of all men, and that heed must be given to such as pretend to know most in it, 'tis to be hoped that those private per­sons will not eye more any particu­lar end of interest, or revenge of wrongs received, before the good of their Countrey, which his Highness is beseeched to examine, as also that their Drifts be not to scatter the Nations forces, that are now terrible to its enemies, into many places for their destruction, which otherwise cannot be so easily wrought.

IN the Bay of Biscay, among others, are the chief Ports of Sansebastian and Bilhao, being the inlets of Commo­dities that furnish the Northern parts of Castile, and o­ther Provinces of Spain, especially with Fish, of which that Countrey vents great quanti­ties, Note: They have enjoyed as free a Trade, as when we had peace with Spain, putting their Commodities at what rates they pleased, and pro­hibited the bringing in of ours.and will be supplied by the French and Dutch, with whatsoever they have occasion for, except this State prevent the same, by keeping men of Warre upon that Coast, but foure or five Frigats will hinder all their trade, and deprive the places aforesaid of other con­veniences, to the losse of the Kings Customes, and Liveli­hood of the inhabitants, which will make them clamo­rous, more particularly when they cannot sell their Countrey goods, as Wools, Iron, &c. nor receive grain from forreign parts, of which many times they stand in great want, and the said Frigats Note: What damages the Pirates of San­sebastians and Pasage, have since done this Nation, all Traders too well know, which might have been prevented of such a Squadron, if our Frigats had been al­lotted: and the subjects of Spain would have been made sensible of a Warre as well as the English.will hinder the attempts of the men of Warre of Sansebastians, that otherwise may be very of­fensive to our English Merchants ships, and these Frigats may be sheltered in the Coast of France, or in St. Antonio, an open Port of the Spaniards near Bilhao, upon occasions of bad weather, and may happily meet the Hollanders, that are now lading the Spanish Wools, there appertaining to the Asentistas, [Page 7] which are to go for Flanders to help pay the souldiery.

In the Provinces of Galicia and Asturias, seated between Biscaya and Portugal, the said King of Spain hath a vast revenue out of the salt that is brought into those parts from South Spain, by Hollanders and others, of which they may be totally deprived, by keeping five or six Fri­gats about those parts, which is a good Coast, and they may harbour themselves in stormy weather, in the Islands of Bayona and Note: No ships being ordered from hence, the men of Warre sailing out of Galicia, have surprized many of our vessels, trading for Portugal, Barbary, the Canary-Islands, &c. Donis, and there refresh themselves with water at pleasure against all the power that Countrey can make, and the taking of the said salt will not be only the Kings losse, but the whole Countrey must be driven to great extremities, and not be able to follow their Fishing trade, which is the greatest maintenance the common people have, and said Frigats will lie opportunely to secure our Traders against the Sally-men of Warre that usually fre­quent those Coasts, and Dunquerquers that are already there, and will every day increase to prey upon our Merchants ships, that go for Portugal and other places.

The Canary-Islands have great dependencies one upon the other, which are in all seven, for Corne, Cattel, &c. especially, great part of their Note: There was never a Frigat sent for the Canaries since the Warres, except General Blakes Fleet, ra­ther the Spanish Pirates have there surprized our Merchant men: and Natives sold th [...] Wines of the Coun­trey at double the value of what it was formerly worth in time of Peace.subsistence consists in a Fishing trade, which they drive in small vessels for the Coast of Barbary, but two or three nimble small Frigats will take most of their Boats in a short time, and reduce them to much necessity, and the trade of this Nation failing, which is the chief support they have, those parts will in a manner be ruined, and the said Frigats may re­fresh themselves at all times in the Madera Island, be­longing to the King of Portugal, about seventy Leagues distant from the Canaries.

Malaga-Alicants, and Valentia within the Streights, [Page 8] are places abounding with Wine, Oile, and Fruit, the greater part whereof was brought for England, and that trade failing, the generality of Note: For want of such ships in the Streights mouth, have we lost many a rich vessel, trading in the Levant, &c. and the enemie there was never interrupt­ed by any that went for the purpose.people will be brought to hard­ship, the rather if we have men of Warre upon their Ports, to examine all strangers, and de­prive them from carrying Pro­visions, without which they cannot well subsist, and Commodities lying in the in­habitants hands: as they must if strangers bring them not hither, will be for the most part lost.

But the grand businesse of all will be to have a Fleet near the Bay of Cales, to hinder that place Sevilla and Saintlucar from Commerce, and to beat the Armada they have now out, which being done, in long time will not that King be able to make a power sufficient to encounter our Fleet; nor bring home his treasure from the Indiaes, and it were to be wished that said Fleets might consist of a competent number of the old Navie ships, the better to handle their Galions which are strongly built, and have great Ordnance, and into this Fleet may, upon any ur­gent Occasion, be drawn the other Frigats from the Coast of Galicia and Biscaya, being so near at hand, the putting off which in the aforesaid stations, is reasonably to be judged, will be of more preju­dice Note: This Nation hath lost by the Pi­rates of Sansebastians, Pasage, Galicia, Majork, &c. near 1000. Saile of Ships, which beside disappointment, and weak­ening the Commonwealth, are reputed to be worth above two Millions of pounds sterling, occasioned meerly for want of having men of Warre in the parts desi­red; the charge of which would have been borne by the Custom and Excise due to the State of our lost Goods.to Spain in a short time, then the loss of the Plate Fleet, and the charge of this State will be small in the doing ther­of, and by this meanes likewise will the King of Spain be de­prived of having his Galions, that are now providing in Bis­caya, Naples, and other places, to joyne with his great Fleet, or Ammunition and other ne­cessaries for the same, that in great part is furnish't from Sansebastians and Pasage.

[Page 9] A strict charge were needful to be given all Sea Com­manders, for the examining of Ships bound into the Spanish Dominions, concern­ing Provisions, Cordage, Sail-Clothes, Note: All Hollanders, French, and others, have been tolerated, though our Fleets lay there, to carry in Provisions and Am­munition without disturbance.Masts, Tarre, Armes, &c. in that therein will de­pend their being able to set forth a Fleet of Ships or not.

And forasmuch as many English and Scotch Seamen, do in too great numbers, frequent Biscaya, Dunkirk, and o­ther Pirating places, to the encouragement of Rovers, it Note: Such have very much strengthned the Adversaries, in furnishing their ships, and putting them upon such matters, as of themselves they could never have accom­plisht, to our great prejudice.were a matter worth considera­tion, whether it may not be convenient to set out a Procla­mation, inviting home all such as appertain to this Common­wealth, and if after a set time they continue in the ser­vice of any Prince or State in enmity with this Nation, to be proceeded against according to their contempt, if taken: the sooner a good Squadron of Ships were sent to the Coast of Spain, is con­ceived would be the bettet, con­sidering Note: We had above twenty Sail of good men of Warre ready at Portsmouth, in Decemb. 1655. and had they been sent away for Cales, would have taken and spoilt their Plate-Fleet, that arriv'd there about March following.how many Merchants vessels we have abroad, that are subject to be surprized and taken by the Spaniard, as ma­ny have lately been, which will be a great encouragement and strength to them, and losse to this Nation.

These and such like courses being taken, will deprive the King of Spain of the greater part of his Incomes, and render his people incapable to pay taxes, which are heavy upon them, and conse­quently his Armies and Garri­sons Note: On the contrary, instead of oppres­sing the Spaniard, the English have in so high a manner suffered by our ill mana­ging the War, that most of the Stock and Trade of the Nation is lost.will be neglected in pay and Provisions, some of his remotest territories will revolt or be taken from him, and a [Page 10] general Calamity overwhelm the whole, and then this Nation may take advantages to fall upon the skirts of of some of his Dominions, or compel him to a Peace with this State, that may be made to the glory of God, and welfare of the Common-wealth.