THE LOSS OF RHODES ad. 



1522. 



third part of the towne was mined : and it is found by- 

 account made, that there were about 60 mines, howbeit, 

 thanked be God, many of them came not to effect, by 

 occasion of the countermines that they within made, and 

 also trenches that the right prudent lord the great master 

 caused to be made deepe within the ditches, unto two 

 or three foot of water. The which trenches and certaine 

 pits that he had caused in the sayd ditches to be 

 wrought, or the host arrived, served right well since : 

 for night and day there were men in them to watch and 

 hearken when the enemies mined, for to meet them, and 

 cut their way, as was done many times. 



And for to speake of the mines that had effect, and 

 damaged us, it is to wit, that the fourth day of Sep- 

 tember, about foure houres after noone, the enemies 

 put fire in two mines, one was betweene the posterne 

 of Spaine and Auvergne, which did no hurt but to the 

 Barbican. The other was at the bulwarke of England, 

 which was so fell and strong, that it caused most part 

 of the town to shake, and cast down a great part of the 

 sayd bulwarke at the spring of the day : and by the 

 earth and stones that fell into the ditches, the enemies 

 came upon the bulwarke with their banners, and fought 

 sore and mightily with our men, not with hands, but 

 with shot of handgunnes. The lord great master that 

 was come 15 dayes or more with his succours to the 

 sayd bulwarke, went with his company to helpe them 

 that fought. After that they had fought the space of 

 two or three houres, the enemies repelled and driven 

 backe by our men from the sayd bulwarke, and beaten 

 with ordinance on every side, withdrew them with 

 their losse, shame, and damage. And this was the first A thousand^ 



victory that our lord e^ave us, and there abode of ^/^.'^ -^^^^^^ 

 • ^i_ J J slaine before 



our enemies a thousand and more. ^^^ English 



When this assault was done, they made another at the bukcarke. 



breach in the wall of Spaine, and mounted upon it, 



but the ordinance of the traverses of the walles and of 



the houses made so faire a riddance, that they were very 



27 



