G2" =) a PORTS sin CORNWALL, 1593—1595. 
arrangements which were made for the internal defence of these 
kingdoms, when Spain by its Armada projected the invasion and 
conquest of England”; privately printed in 1798, by the late 
John Bruce, Esq, ., of the State Paper Office. 
To the 
Most honorable the Lords of her mates 
Most Honorable pryvy Counsell. 
May itt pleas your Lordshippe to be advertised thut according 
to your comandement I have bin in Cornwall and have vewid all 
the porte towns and crikes, bothe on the south and northe sea, and 
would have senn the southern cuntry perticulerly in their divisions, 
w'outt drawing them into one body/ iff the sisis* had nott bin so | 
very great and the most parte of the gentillmen and cuntrymen 
had so many defecks [as] I fynd in the porte towns, and fear also 
in the rest of the cuntry, for I asure your Lordshipe they have 
neyther+ store of munysions nor good arms and for the most 
parte of the towns lytell or noe arms are at all left in them, The 
reason is this they being so guarded cary their armes w‘ them 
for their defence to the sea, The order taken w' the deputie 
Lyftenants, for the better defence of those placis is this; first to 
Barycadee all those towns as strongly as may be, the placis wher 
to sett those Barycades I have shewid them; Then to take such — 
order that nonn take any Arms to sea w' hym, w'outt leaving the 
preporcion he is charged w' for the defence of his towne, and 
that the mayor or other officers shall cause a revew wekly to be 
taken, and when any such defalt is fownd to punishe acordingly/. 
Lykwise fynding greatt inconvenience and difficulties growe to 
the porte towns by reason of the army which is now held ther, 
w is thatt the traynid Bands are composedid of the best menn of 
all the country, and ¢herfor taken outt of many placis so distant 
that some of them come 20 mills to their randevous, by w® means 
our best menn being drawene from the towns upon the cost, have 
left them to the spoyle of the enymy, therfor w' the advise of 
deputies Lyftenant itt is thought for insom poynts to alter thatt 
* In an accompanying note, Mr. Rowett says, the word ‘sisis’ is 
intended for sizes. 
+ This word is written in substitution for the cancelled ‘“ lytell.” 
