160 COKNWAXL AND THE SPANISH ABMADA. 



SO as he is able to make good accompte by proofe of £3000 that 

 he hath lost within this seven years by French pirates, and yet 

 to this daye never received a penny recompense."*" 



The unprotected condition of the harbours was brought 

 home to the King, by such outrages as these, whilst the 

 threatening aspect of foreign powers showed that it was no 

 longer safe to delay fortifying the coast. Accordingly surveys 

 were made of the southern coasts, pointing out where the enemy 

 might easily land, and what defences were necessary. 



A chart of the southern coast of Devon and Cornwall, temp 

 Henry VIII, is still preserved in the Cottonian collection at the 

 British Museum. From this it may be seen how entirely 

 unprotected the seaboard was. Practically the only defences were: 

 on the northern coast the blockhouse at St. Ives, and on the south 

 coast the two square towers at the entrance to Fowey Harbour 

 (which are said to have been built in the reign of Edward IV), 

 — the roadstead being further guarded by a great iron chain 

 drawn from tower to tower across the water, the holes to which 

 it was fastened, according to C. S. Grilbert, at that time still 

 remaining in the rocks ; this chain Leland states was removed 

 to Dartmouth in the same reign it was laid down. Two links of 

 a very large chain, probably from this boom, were dredged up in 

 1776, and are now preserved in the grotto at Menabilly. 



The date of this survey is supposed to be about 1542, audit 

 shows clearly what additional blockhouses were to be built for 

 the defence of the coast. 



One was proposed in Cawsand Bay to protect the landing 

 there; and another at the entrance to Looe, which was at this 

 time defended by a wall against the sea. The westernmost of 

 the two towers at Fowey is noted as being decayed, and the fort 

 outside (now known as St. Catherine's Fort) was then half 

 made. Blockhouses, aU marked " not made," are also shewn at 

 Tywardreath, Gillingdune, Dinas Head at the entrance to 

 Helford River, Penzance Pier, and Penlee Point. 



St. Mawes Castle at this time was in course of erection, but 

 nothing stood on the opposite hiU, where Pendennis was shortly 

 afterwards built, and it is probable that the first defence at this 

 spot was the blockhouse, near the entrance to the Haven. 



* State Papers, Domestic, Elizabeth, vol. 47. 



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