36 SANDSFOOT AND PORTLAND CASTLES. 



signed a certificate as to " the wants " of the establishment, 

 in which he says that 



The whole platform upon the keep is in great decay and requires 

 much timber for its repairs. 



He asks for fifty calevers (handguns) and their furniture, also for 

 four pieces of brass, being sakers, and forty-four shot for each piece, 

 in place of two demi-culverings of cast iron and three iron slings and 

 four bases, which pieces had been condemned and were not serviceable. 

 (Dom. State Papers. Eliz.) 



I have already mentioned Sir George Trenchard's account 

 of the renovations at Sandsfoot between April, 1584, and 

 October, 1586, and I will here cite a few extracts from that 

 part of the document which relates to Portland during the 

 same period. 



New making two platforms, viz., the lower and upper keeps, at a 

 cost of 148 Os. 7d. 



Mending the roof over the captain's lodging ; eleven new pipes of 

 lead. New laying the lead over the hall, and repairing the porter's 

 lodge. Making a little house, or " skeelinge," of boards to put the 

 gun ladles and sponges in. 



Digging two saw pits, and providing sand for casting the lead. The 

 total cost was 228 14s. 8Jd. (Declared accounts. Pipe office 3570.) 



About this time a governor who is not included in Hutchins* 

 list comes upon the scene. In 1592 Sir Walter Raleigh had 

 added to his many other occupations by filling the dual office 

 of Lieutenant of the island and Captain of the fort, but the 

 routine duties were then performed by a deputy named 

 Nicholas Jones. Twelve months later, Sir Walter was in 

 correspondence with the Government, who had required him 

 to put the castle into a proper condition for defence. He 

 told the Privy Council in August, 1593, that there had been 

 no good ordnance at Portland since the brass cannon and 

 best pieces were taken away by an officer for use in the 

 Queen's ships, and he asked for a new supply, as they were 

 then defenceless. In all probability this requisition was only 

 partially satisfied, because the survey of James I. mentioned 



