460 



A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



Early in 1620, Governor Butler built the opposite fort on South- 

 ampton Island, and mounted there five guns, most of which he 

 raised from wrecks. His description of it is as follows : — 



"The Governour is noe sooner returned out of the maine to St. 

 Georges, butt he setts twenty men of his owne people on worcke at 

 Southampton Forte, the which after six weekes of hard labour is 

 absolutely perfected, and the whole worck shutt in, and ordinance 

 secured, by three smale bullwarcks, two curtaines, and two ravelins; 

 the which not only (being thus putt together) maketh a very fayre 

 shewe out to sea, but is, with all (the naturall site of rock exceed- 

 inglie well concuringe) very strong and defensible ; being (to save 

 the truth) the only true peece of fortification in the whole Hands." 



Figure 21. — Castle Island; Gurnet Head in profile, with ruins of King's Castle 

 on the top ; Profile, (a) at base of cliff ; (b) Ruins of Southampton Fort. 

 1901. 



He also built there a cedar redoubt for a magazine. The main 

 ship-channel lies between this fort and the "King's Castle.'' 

 Three of the guns for this fort he raised from the wreck of the 

 Warwick, "with infinite toyle and much danger." If reconsider 

 the small size of the guns of that period and their short range, 

 whether on land or ships, these works seem to have been very well 

 planned, but their strength was never actuallv tested bv hostile ves- 



