n to
discover to the seaward, being in the latitude of thirty degrees, or
very near thereunto. Our pinnaces manned and coming to the shore, we
marched up alongst the river-side to see what place the enemy held
there; for none amongst us had any knowledge thereof at all.

Here the General took occasion to march with the companies himself in
person, the Lieutenant-General having the vant-guard; and, going a mile
up, or somewhat more, by the river-side, we might discern on the other
side of the river over against us a fort which newly had been built by
the Spaniards; and some mile, or thereabout, above the fort was a little
town or village without walls, built of wooden houses, as the plot doth
plainly shew. We forthwith prepared to have ordnance for the battery;
and one piece was a little before the evening planted, and the first
shot being made by the Lieutenant-General himself at their ensign,
strake through the ensign, as we afterwards understood by a Frenchman
which came unto us from them. One shot more was then made, which struck
the foot of the fort wall, which was all massive timber of great trees
like masts. The Lieutenant-General was determined to pass the river this
night with four companies, and there to lodge himself entrenched as near
the fort as that he might play with his muskets and smallest shot upon
any that should appear, and so afterwards to bring and plant the battery
with him; but the help of mariners for that sudden to make trenches
could not be had, which was the cause that this determination was
remitted until the next night.

In the night the Lieutenant-General took a little rowing skiff and half
a dozen well armed, as Captain Morgan and Captain Sampson, with some
others, beside the rowers, and went to view what guard the enemy kept,
as also to take knowledge of the ground. And albeit he went as covertly
as might be, yet the enemy, taking the alarm, grew fearful that the
whole force was approaching to the assault, and therefore with all speed
abandoned the place after the shooting of some of their pieces. They
thus gone, and he being returned unto us again, but nothing knowing
of their flight from their fort, forthwith came a Frenchman, [Nicolas
Borgoignon] being a fifer (who had been prisoner with them) in a little
boat, playing on his fife the tune of the Prince of Orange his song. And
being called unto by the guard, he told them before he put foot out of
the boat what he was himself, and how