JAMES LANCASTER a.d. 



1595. 

 lay all their merchandize and other goods. Approching 

 to the towne, he entered the same, the people imbark- 

 ing themselves in caravels & boats, with all the expe- 

 dition they could. The base towne, of above an 

 hundred houses, being thus taken, we found in it great 

 store of merchandizes of all sorts : as Brasil-wood, 

 sugars, Calico-cloth, pepper, cynamon, cloves, mase, nut- 

 megs, with divers other good things, to the great com- 

 fort of us all. The admirall went up and downe the 

 towne, and placed at the South end of the same captaine 

 Venner and his company, himselfe and his company in 

 the midst of the towne, and captaine Barker and captaine 

 Addy at the other end of the towne, giving great charge, 

 that no man upon paine of great punishment and losse 

 of his shares, should breake up or enter into any ware- 

 house, without order and direction from the admirall. 

 And this commandement was as well kept as ever any 

 was kept, where so great spoile and booty was found : 

 for it was not knowen in all the time of our being there, 

 that any disorder was committed, or any lodge or ware- 

 house broken open, or any spoile was made, or pillaging 

 of any thing ; which is a note much to be observed in 

 such an action : for common mariners and souldiers 

 are much given to pillaging and spoiling, making greater 

 account of the same then of their shares. 



Order being put in all things, we kept a very sure 

 watch this first night, and the morning being come, 

 our admirall and captaine Venner, with the rest of the 

 captaines, , went about the towne, and gave order for 

 the fortifying of it with all expedition : so that within 

 two dayes it was surrounded with posts & planks, 

 all that part of the towne next the maine land, at least 

 nine foot high ; for (God be thanked) we found provi- 

 sion in the towne, sufficient store for it. Now it is to 

 be understood, that this towne is environed on the one 

 part by the sea, and on the backside by a river that 

 runneth behinde it ; so that to come to it by land, 

 you must enter it by a small narrow passage not above 



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