494 
THE ANCIENT DEFENCES OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 
i Master Gunner, 2s. per diem. 36 10 o per annum. 
3 Gunners, at is. per diem. 54 15 o „ 
Reparations made at Yarmouth in 1587 cost. 5 ° 7 7 
Reparations made at Freshwater, Sharpnode and Carey’s Sconce 
in 1558, £130 5 2. 
The garrison of Sandown Castle was in that year : — 
1 Captain at 2s. 6d. per diem. 1 Master Gunner at 2s. per diem. 
12 Warders at 8d. per diem. 3 Gunners, each is. 
There were allotted to Carisbrooke, West Cowes, Yarmouth and 
Sharpnode, with Worsley’s Tower forming apparently the District Es¬ 
tablishment : — 
1 Armourer at 8d. per day. 1 Fletcher at 6d. per day. 
1 Harquebut maker at 8d. per day. 1 Carpenter at 6d. per day. 
1 Armourer at 6d. per day. 1 Wheelwright at 6d. per day 
1 Boyer at 6d. per day. 
The annual expense at Carisbrooke was £6g 19s. 4d. 
At other forts Yin 8 12 s. 6d. 
Also A281 8s. 4d. to the Captain at 6s. 9d. 
His Deputy at 2s. 
13 Servants at 6d. 
Keeper of the forest at 2d. 
Total annual expense for the Island £$67. 
When England was threatened with the Invincible Armada from 
Spain the Island became a peculiar object of attention. Sir George 
Carey, afterwards Lord Hunsdon, and a near relation of Queen Eliza¬ 
beth, who was at that time Captain, and was in reality the first person 
who assumed the title of Governor, issued orders similar to those which 
had been issued in the reign of Edward III. as to the defences. 
In 1638, the Earl of Portland was Governor, and lived at the Castle. 
When the rupture broke out between the King and Parliament, Phillip, 
Earl of Pembroke, was appointed Captain in his stead. The Countess 
and her family however, continued to reside there, with a Colonel Brett 
as custodian. The Mayor of Newport, whose name was Read, said he 
could not answer for the safety of the Castle if the Colonel and Coun¬ 
tess continued to remain there. Four hundred men were therefore 
landed to join the Militia at Newport, and with Read in command 
proceeded to besiege the Castle. There were only 20 men with Col. 
Brett. 
The Countess mounted on the platform with a lighted match in her 
hand, and made a speech to the besiegers, saying she would defend 
the Castle to the last extremity, and fire the first gun herself, unless they 
would grant honourable terms of surrender. The besiegers thought it 
better to negotiate, and the Castle was surrendered. 
At this period the militia were told off into small watch parties, each 
under a Centoner, whose duties were to keep a look-out from elevated 
spots on the coast for hostile ships. There were two beacons, one at 
