A.D. 

 1590. 



This fort was 

 taken by the 

 Earle of Cum- 

 berland, 

 1598. 



Copper mines 

 found neere 

 Havana. 



200 souldiers 

 sent to 5. Juan 

 de Puerto Rico. 

 1500 fighting 

 men in ^. Juan 

 de puerto Rico 

 Island. 



The boldnes of 

 the English. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



warrant to spend the provision of the Island, & to take 

 those rents which his majesty hath here, & to certifie 

 his majestie what there is wanting for the maintaining of 

 the workmen & that they may have all things necessary. 

 So I have sent to Nueva Espanna, for such things as are 

 here wanting. I have written to the M. of the field, which 

 is gone to Havana, informing him that it doeth greatly 

 import that the worke with all expedition should go 

 forward, seeing that it is begun for the defence of the 

 Island. And we doe defend it as well as we can from 

 the enemie, in respect of the great danger which other- 

 wise might happen, if the enemie should come and finde 

 it begun, and not ended. And likewise that his majestie 

 would send me that which I do request. And the most 

 principal thing of al is, to send more Negros. And 

 sending me all these things which be needful, I trust in 

 God I shal in short time build up the fort, to defend 

 us from the enemie. The fort must be builded triangle 

 wise : for it will reach into the bay : and we shal be able 

 to plant in the same 40 pieces of good ordinance. Canon, 

 Demi-canon, and Colverine. The M. of the field, hath 

 promised to send me some from Havana. For that he 

 is determined to cast some there, by reason of the great 

 store of copper, which now of late is found in Havana : 

 for here we have as yet but small store of ordinance to 

 defend us. I looke for 5 Canons which his majestie 

 should send from Spaine, with shot and powder and al 

 kinde of weapons, because that here is great want in the 

 Island. His majestie hath sent the whole number of 

 200 souldiers, and in the companie there came two 

 capitaines. The corps de Guard is kept in the market 

 place : and twise in a moneth I muster all the men in 

 the Hand, and finde very neere 1500 fighting men, and 

 80 horsemen. The forte when it is ended will be the 

 strongest that his majestie hath in all the Indies. And 

 now the people of the countrey sleepe in security. For 

 commonly before, the Englishmen would come and beard 

 us to the havens mouth. God keep your honour, and 



162 



