Editing Henry Morgan (section)

===Puerto del Príncipe (1667)===
{{further|Henry Morgan's raid on Puerto del Príncipe}}
[[Image:Puerto del Príncipe - being sacked in 1668 - Project Gutenberg eText 19396.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Camagüey|Puerto del Príncipe]] being sacked in 1668]]
In 1667 diplomatic relations between the kingdoms of [[Kingdom of England|England]] and Spain were worsening, and rumours began to circulate in Jamaica about a possible Spanish invasion. Modyford authorised privateers to take action against the Spanish, and issued a letter of marque to Morgan "to draw together the English privateers and take prisoners of the Spanish nation, whereby he might inform of the intention of that enemy to attack Jamaica, of which I have frequent and strong advice".{{sfn|Latimer|2009|p=164}} He was given the rank of admiral and, in January 1668, assembled 10 ships and 500 men for the task; he was subsequently joined by 2 more ships and 200 men from [[Tortuga (Haiti)|Tortuga]] (now part of [[Haiti]]).{{sfn|Rogoziński|1995|p=228}}{{sfn|Thomas|2014|loc=756}}

Morgan's letter of marque gave him permission to attack Spanish ships at sea; there was no permission for attacks on land. Any plunder obtained from the attacks would be split between the government and the owners of the ships rented by the privateers. If the privateers stepped outside their official remit and raided a city, any resultant plunder would be retained by the privateers. Rogoziński observes that "attacks on cities were illegal piracy{{snd}}but extremely profitable",{{sfn|Rogoziński|1995|p=228}} although Zahedieh records that if Morgan was able to provide evidence of a potential Spanish attack, the attacks on cities were justifiable under the terms of his commission.{{sfn|Zahedieh|2004a}} Morgan's initial plan was to attack Havana, but, on discovering it was heavily defended, changed the target to [[Camagüey|Puerto del Príncipe]] (now Camagüey), a town {{convert|50|mi|km}} inland. Morgan and his men took the town, but the treasure obtained was less than hoped for.{{sfn|Breverton|2005|pp=36–38}}{{sfn|Gosse|2007|p=156}} According to [[Alexandre Exquemelin]], who sailed with Morgan, "It caused a general resentment and grief, to see such a small booty".{{sfn|Exquemelin|2010|pp=138–139}} When Morgan reported the taking of Puerto Principe to Modyford, he informed the governor that they had evidence that the Spanish were planning an attack on British territory: "we found seventy men had been pressed to go against Jamaica&nbsp;... and considerable forces were expected from Vera Cruz and Campeachy&nbsp;... and from Porto Bello and Cartagena to rendezvous at St Jago of Cuba [Santiago]".{{sfn|Pope|1978|p=145}}

[[File:Henry Morgan's attack on the Castillo de San Jeronimo, Porto Bello, 1669.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Morgan's attack on the Castillo de San Jerónimo, [[Portobelo, Colón|Porto Bello]]]]

After the action, one of the English privateers quarrelled with one of his French shipmates and stabbed him in the back, killing him. Before a riot between the French and English sailors could begin, Morgan arrested the English sailor, and promised the French sailors that the man would be hanged on his return to Port Royal. Morgan kept his word and the sailor was hanged.{{sfn|Talty|2007|p=90}}