Windward and Leeward Islands to try and
attract settlers.[131] Bermudians, Jews, Quakers from Barbadoes and
criminals from Newgate, helped to swell the population of the new
colony, and in 1658 the island is said to have contained 4500 whites,
besides 1500 or more negro slaves.[132]

To dominate the Spanish trade routes was one of the principal objects of
English policy in the West Indies. This purpose is reflected in all of
Cromwell's instructions to the leaders of the Jamaican design, and it
appears again in his instructions of 10th October 1655 to Major-General
Fortescue and Vice-Admiral Goodson. Fortescue was given power and
authority to land men upon territory claimed by the Spaniards, to take
their forts, castles and places of strength, and to pursue, kill and
destroy all who opposed him. The Vice-Admiral was to assist him with his
sea-forces, and to use his best endeavours to seize all ships belonging
to the King of Spain or his subjects in America.[133] The soldiers, as
has been said, were more eager to fight the Spaniards than to plant, and
opportunities were soon given them to try their hand. Admiral Penn had
left twelve ships under Goodson's charge, and of these, six were at sea
picking up a few scattered Spanish prizes which helped to pay for the
victuals supplied out of New England.[134] Goodson, however, was after
larger prey, no less than the galleons or a Spanish town upon the
mainland. He did not know where the galleons were, but at the end of
July he seems to have been lying with eight vessels before Cartagena and
Porto Bello, and on 22nd November he sent Captain Blake with nine ships
to the same coast to intercept all vessels going thither from Spain or
elsewhere. The fleet was broken up by foul weather, however, and part
returned on 14th December to refit, leaving a few small frigates to lie
in wait for some merchantmen reported to be in that region.[135] The
first town on the Main to feel the presence of this new power in the
Indies was Santa Marta, close to Cartagena on the shores of what is now
the U.S. of Columbia. In the latter part of October, just a month before
the departure of Blake, Goodson sailed with a fleet of eight vessels to
ravage the Spanish coasts. According to one account his original design
had been against Rio de la Hacha near the pearl fisheries, "but having
missed his aim" he sailed for Santa Marta. He landed 400 sailors and
soldiers under the protection of his guns, took and d