THE WEST INDIAN PORTS ad. 



1587. 

 shipped to supply these places which shal stand in 

 most need of them. In al the coast of Peru there 

 is no harbour that hath any shipping but onely this 

 place, and the citie of Lima, where there are some 

 ships and barks. The harbour being thus open without 

 any defence, a man of war may very easily come to this 

 place, as I have certified your majestie, thorow the 

 streits of Magellane, & arrive at that instant, when 

 those barks, do come from Peru with your majesties 

 gold & silver, for sometimes they bring 5 or 6 5- °^' ^- ^'^^- 

 millions in those barks; so the enemy may come and »^^^ ?/ ^•'"^ 

 take al their treasure, & not leese one man, because 

 here is not one man to resist him, therefore this place [III. 556.] 

 being thus fortified, the treasure may be kept in the 

 fort. There is a trench made round about your 

 majesties houses which are builded of timber : the 

 President and Judges did cause it to be made, for 

 that here was newes brought that there were certaine 

 men of warre, & pirats comming for these parts. So 

 this trench is thus maintained until such time as your 

 majesties pleasure is to the contrary, & in such wise 

 that your souldiers may fight lying behind the trench ; 

 so there is order given to build a platforme upon the 

 plaine ground, and so to plant such ordinance in those 

 places, as shall be thought most convenient. 



If it wil please your majestie, here we may make a 

 sconce or fort toward the land side, & so trench it round 

 about and build it with stone, because here is a place 

 and al things readie for the same purpose ; and by this 

 meanes the citie would be securely kept : as for the 

 sea there is no danger at al, by reason that the water 

 doth ebbe & flow twise a day, and then when it 

 is ebbing water it wil be all ozy & muddy ground and 

 rocks, so that in no wise at a low water the enemy can 

 wade over the mud to come to this city, and it 

 reacheth from the Island til you come to the bridge 

 called Paita. Two leagues from this city there lieth a T^he harbour 

 harbor called Perico downe to the Westward : this is ^f^^^^^^- 



153 



