Instructions for Admiral Henry Morgan, Esq.,
delivered him 22nd of July, 1670 together with his commission.
You will with these Instructions receive my commission which you are to enjoyne with all expedition to publish and put in due execution, according to the full extent and import of the same, for the accomplishing whereof, you shall have all the assistance this Island can give you.
You are to make known to me what strength you can possibly make, what your wants may be, that on due calculation of both, we may supply you with all possible speed.
You are to take notice and advise your Fleet and Souldiers that you are on the old pleasing Account of, no purchase no pay, and therefore that all which is got shall be devised amongst them according to accustomed Rules.
In case you shall find it prudential as by your Commission you are directed, to attain St. Jago de Cuba, and God blessing you with victory, you are hereby directed, in case you do it without any considerable hazards, to keep and make good the place and country thereabout, until you have advised me of your success and received my further Orders touching the same, least your suddenly quitting and their suddenly returning, beget us new work, and put on new charges and hazards for the second defeating.
In order to do this you are to proclaim mercy and enjoyment of states and liberty of customs to all the Spaniards that will submit and give assurance of their Loyalty to His Majesty, and Liberty to all Slaves that will come in; and to such as by any good service may deserve the same; you are to give notice that their fugitive Masters’ Plantations are to be divided amongst them as rewards for the same & make them sufficient Grants in writing, both for their Liberties and for their Estates, reserving to the Crown of England the fourth part of the produce to be yearly paid for the yearly maintenance of such Forces as shall defend those parts.
In case you find that course to take approveable effect, you are as much as will stand with the same, to preserve the Sugarworks and Canes; but if it otherwise appear to you, that in reason you cannot make good the place for any long time, and that the Spaniards and Slaves are deaf to your proposals, you are then, with all it as a Wilderness, putting the Men-slaves to the Sword and making the Women-Slaves Prisoners to be brought hither, and sold for the account of your Fleet and Army, such of the men that cannot speak Spanish, or any new Negro, you may preserve for the same account; or if any Ships to be present to carry them for New England or Virginia, you may send them all on the same account.
You are to enquire what usage our Prisoners have had, and what Quarter hath been given by the Enemy to such of ours as have fallen under their power, and being well informed, you are to give the same, or rather as our custom is to exceed in Civility and Humanity, endeavouring by all means to make all sorts of People sensible of your Moderation and good nature, and your inaptitude and loathing to spill the blood of men.
You have hereby power to execute Marshall Law, according to such military Laws as have been made by me, and the Laws made by Act of Parliament for the government of the Fleet, which I approve of as fitting for the Service; and hereby authorize you to put them in execution against such as shall offend you, having first published the Laws unto them, that none may pretend ignorance.
If any Ship or Ships shall be present, which have not any Commissions, you are hereby impowered to Grant Commissions to them according to the form I have used, taking security of £1,000 for the performance of the same.
What Ships in this Expedition you shall keep with you under your Command and then order and dispose for the best improvement of this Service, not suffering the takers or pretenders to sell them until they come into their Commission Port.
In regard as many things may happen in this Action which cannot be by me foreseen and provided for in these Instructions, therefore all such matters are left to your well known prudence and conduct, referring to you that are in the place to do therein what shall be needful, thus wishing your success and this Island made happy thereby,
I Remain your faithful Friend and Servant
Thos. Modyford
