SIR FRANCIS DRAKE a.d. 



1586. 

 wooddy and bushy even to the water side was unmeete 

 for their service. 



At this instant we might heare some pieces of 

 Artillerie discharged, with divers small shot towards the 

 harbour, which gave us to understand, according to the 

 order set downe in the Evening before by our Generall, 

 that the Vice-admirall accompanied with Captaine Venner, 

 Captaine White, and Captaine Crosse, with other sea 

 Captaines, and with divers Pinnesses and boates should 

 give some attempt unto the litle Fort standing on the 

 entrie of the inner Haven, neere adjoyning to the 

 towne, though to small purpose, for that the place 

 was strong, and the entry very narrow was chained 

 over : so as there could be nothing gotten by the 

 attempt, more than the giving of them an alarme on 

 that other side of the Haven being a mile and a halfe 

 from the place we now were at. In which attempt the 

 Vice-admirall had the rudder of his skiffe stroken 

 through with a Saker shot, and a litle or no harme 

 received elsewhere. 



The troopes being now in their march, halfe a myle 

 behither the Towne or lesse, the ground we were on 

 grewe to bee streight, and not above fiftie paces over, 

 having the maine Sea on the one side of it, and the 

 harbour-water or inner sea (as you may tearme it) on 

 the other side, which in the plot is plainely shewed. 

 This streight was fortified cleane over with a stone wall 

 and a ditch without it : the sayd wall being as orderly 

 built with flanking in every part, as can be set downe. 

 There was onely so much of this streight unwalled, as 

 might serve for the issuing of the horsemen, or the 

 passing of caryage in time of neede : but this unwalled 

 part was not without a very good Barricado of wine- [Hi. 542.] 

 buts or pipes, filled with earth, full and thicke as they 

 might stand on ende one by another, some part of 

 them standing even within the maine sea. 



This place of strength was furnished with sixe great 

 peeces, Demi-culverins, and Sakers, which shotte 



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