Modyford’s Reasons for Granting Commissions
Below is the narrative by Sir Thomas Modyford, governor of Jamaica, setting out his reasons for granting commissions to privateers against the Spanish even though he knew, though not officially, that a peace treaty had been signed between England and Spain.
His letters to Lord Arlington from Barbadoes will testify what an aversion he had for the privateers, as also his affectionate letters to the Spanish Governors after his landing in Jamaica on 4 June 1664, and his severe handling [of] those people, by imprisoning them, executing some and restoring their prizes, to the great hazard of the peace. But when he found how powerful an enemy he had made of those who were formerly the best friends to this place, and who not only knew all their ports, bays and creeks, but every path in the island, and had many correspondents on shore, and that some of them were gone to the French at Tortuga and Hispaniola, and the rest preparing to go, and could better attempt this place than we could defend it, Modyford found the fatal error he was running into, and having notice of the Dutch war by Lord Arlington’s despatch of 12 November 1664, he changed his behaviour so effectually that he persuaded all in or near this harbour to undertake against the Dutch at Curaçao, giving them suitable commissions and Col Ed Morgan, his Deputy Governor, for their general; they went cheerfully without putting the King to one penny charge, and took Statia and Saba, but by the death of Col Morgan they scattered and left the rest of that service unperformed.
He sent Major Beeston to treat with them for a second voyage to Curaçao, which they promised to undertake. Meantime he advised the Duke of Albemarle of the state of this place in relation to the privateers by letters of 6 March 1665; in answer to which he had orders of 30 May 1665 to grant or not commissions against the Spaniards, as to him should seem most advantageous for His Majesty’s service, and letters from Lord Arlington, that from the Lord General he should receive His Majesty’s directions touching the privateers, and also letters from the Lord Chancellor to the same purpose, and from Sir James Modyford, and also his Grace’s own letter in Feb 1667, confirming all the former, and that after the peace with Spain, as by the abstracts annexed may appear.
The privateers meantime were driven to leeward, and the admiral fell in with the island of Providence and without any commission took it; to which Modyford sent a Governor, which was not only approved of at home, but another Governor under the broad seal of England authorized and sent. Yet notwithstanding this full power he would not proceed to grant commissions until the council of this island unanimously affirmed it was for the good of the island and gave their reasons hereto annexed and thereupon in March 1666, there being also war with France, he granted commissions, which was approved by His Grace, his end being only to keep them from joining with the French, but they had only commissions for taking ships, and none for landing. He always reproved them for so acting, especially in the business of Puerto Bello and Maracay [Maracaibo]; to which they made their defence by writing, which he sent home, but never received any answer to.
Meantime, by reason of their numbers and not knowing the sense at home, he thought it prudential to forbear punishing them; and, receiving an intimation of His Majesty’s sense in his son’s letters, and also advice of the intentions of the Spaniards to attempt them, the galleons being daily expected in the Indies, and the New Spain fleet already there, in order to detain the privateers on the island, he repealed all their powers. Hears that divers[e] of them intend to set up for themselves, and only two have as yet joined the French. ‘If the peace with France were immortal, or if that warlike Prince had no design this way, I should be little concerned at the lawless motions of these privateers, but well knowing the uncertainty of the former, and the assuredness of the latter, I must confess it troubles me to be driven to that saddest error of all Governments to act so imprudently as in this most active age to weaken ourselves and strengthen our enemies.’ Will say something to the unreasonable rumours of the great wealth these privateers are said to get; the Puerto Bello business cleared them 60 pounds per head, and the fight with Don Alonso at Maracay 30 pounds; this the common sort spent immediately in arms, clothes and drink, and the owners of the ships in refitting, and some of the officers and civiller sort are settling plantations, and the owners of ships spend their shares in refitting, so that they are from hand to mouth and have little or nothing left. His Majesty’s fifteenths he keeps to be employed in fortification, which may be about 600 pounds, and His Royal Highness’s tenths he always sent home to Sir William Coventry and Mr Wren for His Royal Highness’s account. To himself they gave only 20 pounds for their commission, which never exceeded 300 pounds.
Affirms this to be true touching his transactions with the privateers of this port, and challenges all the bold maligners and rash talkers against his actings in this particular, to disprove the least inconsiderable title or circumstance herein, not doubting but all sober and true Englishmen will not only absolve him but approve of his proceedings.