ABSTRACT
The clumsiness of my pen and brevity of the time available have constrained me to write by the hand of another. The situation is that yesterday, Tuesday, there appeared off this town seven 4 sails, one5 of which vessels is very powerful. The fleet is English and so rich in slaves and merchandise that they affirm it to be worth more than Ioo,ooo pesos. The commander is an Englishman who time past came to Santo Domingo. He advertises that he is a great servitor of [your honour] his majesty6• His intention is to sell with authorization and unless this license is given him he threatens with great oaths to do what harm and damage he may be able.
