As the 1600s dawned,Spain was still insisting upon its right to control all settlements and trade in "Spanish" America. But as time passed, more and more settlers and traders from other European countries poured in. Colonies were founded by the Dutch in Curaçao, by the English in Virginia and Bermuda,and by the French in Martinique and Guadeloupe. There was little the Spanish could do to prevent this.
The Spanish authorities did try to stop some of the illegal trading in their colonies. They knew that Dutch ships stopped at the small Spanish settlements on the northern coast of the island of Hispaniola in order to trade for supplies for the long journey home. So they forced all the Spanish settlers in the that region to leave their homes and move nearer to the island's capital,Santo Domingo,where the governor could keep an eye on them.
The "cow killers"
Unfortunately the Spanish authorities had not taken into account the other inhabitants of wild country along the northen coast. These were the "cow killers," groups of men who lived by hunting the herds cows and pigs that roamed the island. They lived rough lives,and they were a rough bunch! As the years passed,their numbers grew. Some were marooned on Hispaniola,some were escaped slaves or prisoners,others were religious refugees fleeing persecution in their own countries. The cow killers were happy to trade their meat and hides with passing ships in exchange for gunpowder,bullets,guns,brandy,rum,and other provisions. These men were a lawless gang who were united only by their opposition to the Spanish. They became known as buccaneers.
Nice article