These skilled mariners cruised the Caribbean, plundering Spanish ships whenever they could. ... Elizabeth did sanction an early attempt at colonization in 1584, when Sir ... The Jamestown adventurers believed they would find instant wealth in the ... islands in the Caribbean, an incursion into the Spanish American empire.
The amount of years for service varied and was decided by the contractor, for adults it was typically around 4 to 7 years but it wasn't always only seven years.