Editing Privateer (section)

=== Providence Island colony ===
{{Main|Providence Island colony}}
Bermudians were also involved in privateering from the short-lived English colony on [[Providence Island colony#Origin of the colony|Isla de Providencia]], off the coast of Nicaragua. This colony was initially settled largely via Bermuda, with about eighty Bermudians moved to Providence in 1631. Although it was intended that the colony be used to grow cash crops, its location in the heart of the Spanish controlled territory ensured that it quickly became a base for privateering.

Bermuda-based privateer [[Daniel Elfrith]], while on a privateering expedition with Captain [[Sussex Camock]] of the bark ''Somer Ilands'' (a rendering of "''Somers Isles''", the alternate name of the Islands of Bermuda commemorating Admiral Sir [[George Somers]]) in 1625, discovered two islands off the coast of Nicaragua, {{convert|50|mi|km|order=flip}} apart from each other. Camock stayed with 30 of his men to explore one of the islands, San Andrés, while Elfrith took the Warwicke back to Bermuda bringing news of Providence Island. Bermuda Governor Bell wrote on behalf of Elfrith to Sir Nathaniel Rich, a businessman and cousin of the Earl of Warwick (the namesake of [[Warwick Parish, Bermuda|Warwick Parish]]), who presented a proposal for colonizing the island noting its strategic location "lying in the heart of the Indies & the mouth of the Spaniards". Elfrith was appointed admiral of the colony's military forces in 1631, remaining the overall military commander for over seven years. During this time, Elfrith served as a guide to other privateers and sea captains arriving in the Caribbean. Elfrith invited the well-known privateer Diego el Mulato to the island. Samuel Axe, one of the military leaders, also accepted letters of marque from the Dutch authorizing privateering.

The Spanish did not hear of the Providence Island colony until 1635 when they captured some Englishmen in [[Portobelo, Colón|Portobelo]], on the [[Isthmus of Panama]]. [[Francisco de Murga]], Governor and Captain-General of [[Cartagena, Colombia|Cartagena]], dispatched Captain [[Gregorio de Castellar y Mantilla]] and engineer Juan de Somovilla Texada to destroy the colony.{{Sfn|Offen|2011}} The Spanish were repelled and forced to retreat "in haste and disorder".{{sfn|Latimer|2009|pp=85–86}} After the attack, King [[Charles I of England]] issued [[letters of marque]] to the Providence Island Company on 21 December 1635 authorizing raids on the Spanish in retaliation for [[1635 Capture of Tortuga|a raid that had destroyed the English colony]] on [[Tortuga (Haiti)|Tortuga]] earlier in 1635 ([[Tortuga (Haiti)|Tortuga]] had come under the protection of the Providence Island Company. In 1635 a Spanish fleet raided Tortuga. 195 colonists were hung and 39 prisoners and 30 slaves were captured). The company could in turn issue letters of marque to subcontracting privateers who used the island as a base, for a fee.  This soon became an important source of profit. Thus the company made an agreement with the merchant Maurice Thompson under which Thompson could use the island as a base in return for 20% of the booty.{{sfn|Latimer|2009|p=86}}

In March 1636 the Company dispatched Captain [[Robert Hunt (governor)|Robert Hunt]] on the ''Blessing'' to assume the governorship of what was now viewed as a base for privateering.{{sfn|Latimer|2009|p=83}} Depredations continued, leading to growing tension between England and Spain, which were still technically at peace.

On 11 July 1640, the Spanish Ambassador in London complained again, saying he
{{blockquote|understands that there is lately brought in at the Isle of Wight by one, Captain James Reskinner &#91;[[James Reiskimmer]]], a ship very richly laden with silver, gold, diamonds, pearls, jewels, and many other precious commodities taken by him in virtue of a commission of the said Earl [of Warwick] from the subjects of his Catholic Majesty ... to the infinite wrong and dishonour of his Catholic Majesty, to find himself thus injured and violated, and his subjects thus spoiled, robbed, impoverished and murdered in the highest time of peace, league and amity with your Majesty.{{sfn|Latimer|2009|pp=89–90}}}}

[[Nathaniel Butler]], formerly Governor of Bermuda, was the last full governor of Providence Island, replacing Robert Hunt in 1638. Butler returned to England in 1640, satisfied that the fortifications were adequate, deputizing the governorship to Captain Andrew Carter.{{sfn|Kupperman|1993|pp=242–243}}

In 1640, don [[Melchor de Aguilera]], Governor and Captain-General of Cartagena, resolved to remove the intolerable infestation of pirates on the island. Taking advantage of having infantry from Castile and Portugal wintering in his port, he dispatched six hundred armed Spaniards from the fleet and the presidio, and two hundred black and mulatto militiamen under the leadership of don [[Antonio Maldonado y Tejada]], his Sergeant Major, in six small frigates and a galleon.{{sfn|Conquista de la Isla de Santa Catalina}} The troops were landed on the island, and a fierce fight ensued. The Spanish were forced to withdraw when a gale blew up and threatened their ships. Carter had the Spanish prisoners executed. When the Puritan leaders protested against this brutality, Carter sent four of them home in chains.{{sfn|Hamshere|1972|pp=48–49}}

{{main|Spanish capture of Providencia}}
The Spanish acted decisively to avenge their defeat. General [[Francisco Díaz Pimienta]] was given orders by King [[Philip IV of Spain]], and sailed from Cartagena to Providence with seven large ships, four [[Pinnace (ship's boat)|pinnaces]], 1,400 soldiers and 600 seamen, arriving on 19 May 1641. At first, Pimienta planned to attack the poorly defended east side, and the English rushed there to improvise defenses. With the winds against him, Pimienta changed plans and made for the main New Westminster harbor and launched his attack on 24 May. He held back his large ships to avoid damage, and used the pinnaces to attack the forts. The Spanish troops quickly gained control, and once the forts saw the Spanish flag flying over the governor's house, they began negotiations for surrender.{{sfn|Latimer|2009|p=90}}

On 25 May 1641, Pimienta formally took possession and celebrated mass in the church. The Spanish took sixty guns, and captured the 350 settlers who remained on the island – others had escaped to the Mosquito Coast.  They took the prisoners to Cartagena.{{sfn|Latimer|2009|pp=90–91}} The women and children were given a passage back to England. The Spanish found gold, indigo, cochineal and six hundred black slaves on the island, worth a total of 500,000 ducats, some of the accumulated booty from the raids on Spanish ships.{{sfn|Hamshere|1972|p=49}} Rather than destroy the defenses, as instructed, Pimienta left a small garrison of 150 men to hold the island and prevent occupation by the Dutch.{{sfn|Latimer|2009|pp=90–91}}  Later that year, Captain [[John Humphrey (Massachusetts colonist)|John Humphrey]], who had been chosen to succeed Captain Butler as governor, arrived with a large group of dissatisfied settlers from New England. He found the Spanish occupying the islands, and sailed away.{{sfn|Kupperman|1993|p=250}} Pimienta's decision to occupy the island was approved in 1643 and he was made a knight of the [[Order of Santiago]].{{sfn|Latimer|2009|pp=90–91}}