MRP: Letter from Mr. Thomas Noell to Martin Noell, esq, June 5, 1655

Letter from Mr. Thomas Noell to Martin Noell, esq, June 5th, 1655

Editorial history

30/11/11, CSG: Created page & posted letter to wiki

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Transcription

Source: Thomas Birch (ed.), vol. xxvii. p. 91 in 'State Papers, 1655: June (2 of 7)', A collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, vol. 3: December 1654 - August 1655 (London, 1742), pp. 514-528

The superscription,
For his affectionate brother, Martine Noell, esq;
in the Old Jury, London.

Mr. Martine Noell and loving brother,

Sir, yesterday being the 4th of instant came in advyce boate from the fleate; which news hath begott a very sad spiritt through up our whole island, their successe being so exceedingly contradictorilye to all expectations in their attempts upon Santo Domingo, the uttermost of whose forces, as by good inteligence both here given them, as also by one that came emediatly from them whom they met with att St. Christophers, as also by severall that came unto them at their arivall att Hispaniola; all whom did conceive that there force there exceeded not 3000 men in all, Whites, Negroes, and Indians; and that they expected them not till they saw them: there unhappinesse was that they sayled 7 days before the island, before they recovered there port, by which time the Spaniards had knowledge of them, and made provision for them, and suncke ships in the road, whereby they weare denied spedy passage unto them; and then the unhappinesse of there resolves weare, they sailed 10 leages from them, when they might have with much safeti, with a little hazard landed within too; where some men thei did land, and upon the new resolves toucke aboard agayne with little hazard; but landing so farr weare forced to march thirtie miles on shoare to meete the enimie, who was not resolved to march towards them out of the towne. Our Forlorne Hope marched on under the command of adjetant Jackson, who did not mannage them with sufficient valeor, but brought them of with an unhandsome retreate upon there reserves, who they also disordered to more then a retreating posture, never firing; but before this general Venebles, with captain Cox, one mr. Temple and Murford, the one his secritary, goeing to view the towne, and fort, and avenewes, for the better conducting of there forces upon them, weare sett on by a sally from the towne, where Cox was killed, and the 2 before named gentlemen, and the general hardly escaped. This, I beleave, did stricke a dampe upon the speritts of the solders, togather with the removall of there object, which was hope of plunder; the proclamation of the forbidding of which att the head of each rejement was not, I feare, seasonably done: for as by privete hands, I am informed, they did much murmer against it. In this first attempt was major general Haynes ingaged, whom when all run from him, and some few officers would not fly from it, but himselfe ingaged 8 persons, slewe one in the place, who was found dead by him, wounded the rest, by whom he himself was also killed. He cried out, that if but 6 would stand with him, he doubted not to put them all to a shamefull retreate, but thei would not stand. The forces, that thus putt the shame upon our army, yow may judge the nomber of them, when capt. Haines his son with twentie horse routed them, and fetcht of his father's dead bodi. The pressoners toucke report, they weare not above 300, that did this exploit upon us. By the master of the advyce boate and some others it is reported, that the seamen and the Barbadoes regiment have desired to passe upon the dutye, and either to the towne carry or lay there bones there. But I do perseve by the generall's letters they are drawne off from the towne and designe for Jemeco; and to that purpose have order'd all shipes there to seecke them; but Goodsonne and others writt doubtfully, whether thei will so doe ore noe; but I hope, that the shipes, all of whom thei expect by this time, are safli arived with them; and I hope Webberli and others within few houres after this advyce boat's departure from them, which was 6th of May; I say, the arivale of all those shipes, I hope, will begett fresh corage and new resolves in them; especially when thei shall see that arive with there last dispatches ordered to be left here, and sent for England (viz.) there artilerie and ordinances, and there provisions of warr and all other there nesisari provisions. But I doe persceive the generall is much discoraged with his common solderie for there cowardice. Indeed it is generally by all privitt letters and persons, that have come hether, reported and sayd, our men weared with there long march, and fainted with there exceeding thirst for want of water; insomuch, that many fell downe by the way in there march; and soe with one drame of brandye recoveryed strenght to crawle. I shall not condemn any for the conduct; but it is much sensured by mani, in that thei marcht so great a bodi, not lesse by there muster roles then 10000 men, horse and foote, in so smale a battalia, even but 10 abrest, by which meanes there forlorne rowted there reserve, and there reserve there maine batalia, which had thei marcht in winges, the one might have supplied and assisted the others. The totall accompt of the busines I doe preshume you will have an accompt of before this by a shipe dispatched from the fleete for England, for the purpasse; to which larger accompt I referre yow.

For the perticuler bussines coll. Goodson hath ordered all the goods not sent to him, and yett in port, shall be unshipped and disposed here; to which purpose he hath made his request to the governor for that purposse, who hath ordered, that all the goods that weare taken out of the Morning Star, and put into the prize shipe now goeing downe, shall stay till such time he hath rumaged and delivered all such goods, wherein yow are conserned, be deliveryed ashoare here upon this island; of which I preshume he will give yow an accompt att large. I presented to him mr. Nailor, who is the agent for the dispossing of them, or capt. Jame Beecke, a very honest man, and a man of a large creditt and trade, who is coll. Goodson's atturni both for yourselfe and him, in bussines of yours before in his custodye, from whom I preshume yow will resceive a perticuler accompt of him. I also presented the governer for the dispossall of cargoe here, of whom I am confident yow will resceve an honest and faithfull accompt of what of yours shall come to his hands; but the governer hath not acquainted mee with ani resolves, what farther, or how he will doe or disposse of your bussines; for which I shall refferr yow unto his perticuler advise. This onli (brother) serves to accompanie this perticuler shipe, by whom I thought meet to write, having not but my former matter; but this occation presenting, by which I shall onli ade thus farther, with my affectionate respects to your selfe and sister. I comitte yow to God, and rest,

Your affectionate brother,

Tho. Noell.

June 5, 1655.

Since the writting of this, the governer hath ordered capt. Beecke to resceive all the goods not cary'd by the . . . . . to coll. Goodson, and to resceive them ashore.

I am advised the Spaniards have gotten some of there coullers, which I hope for the honnor of our nation thei will not so losse.

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