THE WEST INDIAN PORTS a.d. 



1587. 



heart of grasse : so I have tolde them that your majestie 

 will command that this citie and the harbour shall be 

 better fortified and made stronger, and all this which I 

 have caused to be builded, is with that money which I 

 have borowed of the citizens. 



As touching the safegard and defence of this harbour, The poynt of 

 if your majestie so please, here may we builde a very ^<^^'^°^' 

 faire and strong castle with foure bulwarks, on the poynt 

 of the Ycacos which doth lie on the side where the citie 

 is builded, because all the shippes which doe come to this 

 harbour, must come close abord this shore, so neere, that 

 wee may cast a stone into them, and so overtake any 

 ship. So likewise if the shippes will goe on the other 

 shore, then they doe goe in greater danger, because of 

 those shoalds and ledges of rockes, and so are often cast 

 away. And forasmuch as those ships which here doe 

 arrive are brought hither by Easterly winds, and some- 

 times with those winds which come out from the sea, 

 and therefore perforce must give a good birth off, other- 

 wise they cannot enter into this harbour, therefore of 

 necessity they must come so close to the shore : And on 

 the other side where the Island of Cares standeth, there 

 may wee builde another tower foure-square, and plant 

 some foure or five pieces of ordinance, and this will serve 

 for the night, if occasion be offered that any small shippe 

 or barke should come in here, or any pinnesse in the 

 night, to doe any harme, or to attempt to burne any 

 Fleete which shoulde ride here at an anker within this 

 harbour : so the fort beeing on the one side, and the 

 tower on the other side, keeping good watch, there can 

 no shippe nor barke come into this harbour, but they 

 will bee espied. 



In the narrow mouth at the entring in the other way 

 towardes the Island of Cares, where the channell doth 

 runne neere the shore, as I have already certified your 

 majestie, there may another castle be made, and there 

 foure or five pieces of ordinance planted, and some sixe 

 or eight men to keepe watch and ward : this being done, 



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