ys, and Doyley petitioned the Protector to appoint
him to the post. William Brayne, however, arrived from England in
December 1656 to take chief command; and when he, like his two
predecessors, was stricken down by disease nine months later, the place
devolved permanently upon Doyley. Doyley was a very efficient governor,
and although he has been accused of showing little regard or respect for
planting and trade, the charge appears to be unjust.[144] He firmly
maintained order among men disheartened and averse to settlement, and at
the end of his service delivered up the colony a comparatively
well-ordered and thriving community. He was confirmed in his post by
Charles II. at the Restoration, but superseded by Lord Windsor in August
1661. Doyley's claim to distinction rests mainly upon his vigorous
policy against the Spaniards, not only in defending Jamaica, but by
encouraging privateers and carrying the war into the enemies' quarters.
In July 1658, on learning from some prisoners that the galleons were in
Porto Bello awaiting the plate from Panama, Doyley embarked 300 men on a
fleet of five vessels and sent it to lie in an obscure bay between that
port and Cartagena to intercept the Spanish ships. On 20th October the
galleons were espied, twenty-nine vessels in all, fifteen galleons and
fourteen stout merchantmen. Unfortunately, all the English vessels
except the "Hector" and the "Marston Moor" were at that moment absent to
obtain fresh water. Those two alone could do nothing, but passing
helplessly through the Spaniards, hung on their rear and tried without
success to scatter them. The English fleet later attacked and burnt the
town of Tolu on the Main, capturing two Spanish ships in the road; and
afterwards paid another visit to the unfortunate Santa Marta, where they
remained three days, marching several miles into the country and burning
and destroying everything in their path.[145]

On 23rd April 1659, however, there returned to Port Royal another
expedition whose success realised the wildest dreams of avarice. Three
frigates under command of Captain Christopher Myngs,[146] with 300
soldiers on board, had been sent by Doyley to harry the South American
coast. They first entered and destroyed Cumana, and then ranging along
the coast westward, landed again at Puerto Cabello and at Coro. At the
latter town they followed the inhabitants into the woods, where besides
other plunder they came upon twenty-two chests of roy