A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1522. 

 [II. i. 86.] some of our men advised to dense the barbican, and take 

 the earth out of the ditch, to the end that the enemies 

 should not easily come upon the wall. And in effect 

 weening that it were well and behoovefull to be done, 

 by great diligence night and day by mines they voided 

 the barbican, and the most part of the earth that lay in 

 the ditch was brought into the towne, the which was 

 hurtfull afterward, and was cause that the enemies got the 

 foot of the wall. Notwithstanding, they had it but 

 scarsely. But this cleansing furthered the time, and 

 caused them to get it sooner then they should have done 

 if the earth had lien still : but their finall intent was to 

 raise the defence of the bulwarks, and then passe at 

 their pleasure, and enter into the barbican, as they 

 have done : for the enemies seeing that the barbican 

 was clensed, thought to get into it by trenches, and so 

 they did, howbeit they were certaine dayes letted by our 

 handgun shot. The enemies seeing that they might not 

 come neere it, covered their trenches with tables to save 

 themselves : and then they made a mine whereby they 

 might goe to the barbican. So by these two meanes, 

 afterward they were repaired with earth and with a 

 certaine wall that they made for to eschew the shot of 

 the bulwarks of Auvergne and Spaine : and in the mine 

 they found but two gunners, which they slew by force 

 of men. By this maner they being covered on all parts 

 and without any danger, passed thorow and lept into the 

 barbican, and got the foot of the wall ; which was the 

 17 day of October, an unhappy day for the poore 

 towne, and occasion of the ruine thereof, and winning 

 of the same. 



At this point they slept not, but lightly and with 

 great delight they began to picke and hew the wall. 

 And weening to make remedy therefore, and to finde 

 meanes to drive them from the sayde barbican with 

 engins of fire and barrels of gunpowder, wee slew many 

 of them, but it availed nothing : for the quantitie and 

 multitude of people that travelled there was so great^ 



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