By the year 1629, the colony had grown sufficiently to be regarded as a threat to the Spanish West Indies.

[6] Orders were given to the commander of the outward bound Spanish fleet Armada de Sotavento to Mexico to clear out the heavily armed English and French colonies.

[7] Spanish soldiers were then sent ashore to destroy the few newly built structures and capture the settlers.

[9][10][11][12] On 7 September 1629, the Spanish expedition moved on to the sister island Saint Kitts and burned the entire settlement.

[13] By the terms of surrender, the Spanish allotted shipping to carry some 700 of the colonists back to England.