give warning. But our Captain
perceiving it, cut betwixt her and the town, forcing her to go to the
other side of the bay: whereby we landed without impeachment, although
we found one gunner upon the Platform [battery] in the very place where
we landed; being a sandy place and no key [quay] at all, not past twenty
yards from the houses.

There we found six great pieces of brass ordinance, mounted upon their
carriages, some Demy, some Whole-Culvering.

We presently dismounted them. The gunner fled. The town took alarm
(being very ready thereto, by reason of their often disquieting by their
near neighbours the Cimaroons); as we perceived, not only by the noise
and cries of the people, but by the bell ringing out, and drums running
up and down the town.

Our captain, according to the directions which he had given over night,
to such as he had made choice of for the purpose, left twelve to keep
the pinnaces; that we might be sure of a safe retreat, if the worst
befell. And having made sure work of the Platform before he would enter
the town, he thought best, first to view the Mount on the east side
of the town: where he was informed, by sundry intelligences the year
before, they had an intent to plant ordnance, which might scour round
about the town.

Therefore, leaving one half of his company to make a stand at the foot
of the Mount, he marched up presently unto the top of it, with all speed
to try the truth of the report, for the more safety. There we found no
piece of ordnance, but only a very fit place prepared for such use,
and therefore we left it without any of our men, and with all celerity
returned now down the Mount.

Then our Captain appointed his brother, with JOHN OXNAM [or OXENHAM] and
sixteen other of his men, to go about, behind the King's Treasure House,
and enter near the eastern end of the Market Place: himself with the
rest, would pass up the broad street into the Market Place, with sound
of drum and trumpet. The Firepikes, divided half to the one, and half to
the other company, served no less for fright to the enemy than light of
our men, who by this means might discern every place very well, as if
it were near day: whereas the inhabitants stood amazed at so strange a
sight, marvelling what the matter might be, and imagining, by reason of
our drums and trumpets sounding in so sundry places, that we had been a
far greater number then we were.

Yet, by means of the soldiers of which were in the to