BRasile is a Continent so great and large that it is not yet by any wholly discouered , yet as by a patterne of stuffe or cloath the whole peice is knowne , so by the relation of part thereof you may gather what the whole is . The Land , namely those parts which ye neere to the Bay , is a Land very fruitfull and healthfull . Saluadoe which is the name of the Towne , it lyeth in thirteene degree ; it is a Land that consisteth of hills and vallies , the hills are not so high , but the highest beares trees and fruite of many sorts , the vallies and plaine Land is not so low but that it auoids all waters , and brings forth grasse , fruits , and hearbs in aboundance ; the fruits of the Land as they are many for varietie , so is their aboundance of euery sort , and generally they are pleasant to eate , and very healthfull to the body ; there are a numberlesse number of Oranges and Lemons , the Oranges are generally sweete ( yet there bee some sower ) gre●t in proportion , like vnto a 2 penny loase , the Lemons are ordinary smal●r then the Lemons that come to England , yet they be of an excellent rellish and taste , there bee also very many Plantings of two or three sorts , they are called in Spanish Bonantos , in one cluster there grow some 250 , there is also a fruite which wee call an apple , it is excellent against the bloody flux , which disease is subject to those who distemper them●elues with drinking of wine and eating of grapes , it cots like to a Pomgranet , Pomgranets there be many and extraordinary great , there bee also many other sorts of fruits like to Cherries and Plummes , there is a fruite like in proportion to an Artichoke called Annanasses , it is twice so great , it hath the most excellent taste in my iudgement of any fruite that is , at hath a little taste like to a Strawbery , but far more sauory , there bee also Pine Apples , Muskemillons , Potatoes , Water-millions , Cowcumbers , Radishes , and all sorts of hearbs , and many sorts of Howers , it bringeth forth a berry which is stronger in taste then pepper , I am not able to call to minde the particulars of fruits which it brings forth , there be also many Grapes : some of these fruits are all the yeare to bee got , some three times a yeare , others twice a yeare , the Land hath very much cattill , as Bulls , Kine , Sheepe , and Swine . When as the Towne Saluades was giuen vp to the Spaniard by the Hollanders , and the Spaniard did victuall the Holanders , I did heare of credite ( and I doe beleeue it ) that one husbandman did se'l to Don Frederico Generall to the Spanish Armado 18000 Beefes , besides Goates , Swine , and Sheepe , and of them there be great store , also there be many Hens , Turkies , Peacockes , and other sorts of small fowles , there bee many wilde fowle , as Parrats and Perrecitos , the Land breeds many good Horses , the Brasillians and Portugals employ themselues and their Negers chiefely to the planting of Sugar-canes and Tobacco , and to the making of both , the goodnesse of both , and the quantity of both I need not relate of , for England hath good knowledge of both , the best Tobacco is but worth a Royall a pound , which is sixe pence English . It hath plentie of diuers sorts of woods and rootes fi● for the vse of Apothecaries and Dyers : the Land hath in it many great deepe and long Riuers of fresh water , in which R●uers there is a great quantitie of fresh fish , likewise the Sea runnes vp into the Land by cricks 40 , 60 , 100 , mile● in some places , within one daies saile there bee Townes and Villages thought to bee richer then Saluadoe . Some 140 miles from the Baye lyeth the Riuer Dela●plato , vhere there be mines very rich ; one of Baye that was a slaue told me , that in that place there is not one in ten but hath their ch●sts and dores with lockes of siluer ; by the r●●e of reason and prop●rtion you may conceiue whether that place may not 〈◊〉 called the Riuer of Plate . Some three moneths after we had taken the Towne of Bare , there came a Shippe from that place which was taken price , that had in it all kind of kitchen vessels of siluer .

160. Leagues from Baye lyeth Fernaborke , by land it may be marched to in 25 daies as hath ben reported to mee , the Towne is not strong on the Land side , but by Sea it hath three strong Castles , hauing this but by report I will not further insist vpon it .

The people that are the naturall inhabitants thereof are the Brasillians , they which are now the chiefest are the Portugals . The Spanish King clames Soueraigne , though by some denyed , and by the rest vnwillingly acceped of . The Brasillians are of complection tawny , of condition beastly , like vnto rauenous beasts they will eate the bodies of dead men , and for that cause they are called men-eaters : some of them are brought vp to the profession of the Romish religion , they are a people very laborious , which is contrary to the desire and disposition of the Portugals and bastard Spaniards . The Portugals which there inhabite are a people proud by nature , and haughtie in their carriage in time of prosperitie , but in time of aduersitie a flattering and crouching people , they are very idle people , desirous to command but cannot endure to put a finger to worke , and that is one maine reason that makes Negars to bee so well sold in that part , they are very curious in their apparell , and so in their diet , the women for daintinesse may not set a foote on the ground , they must haue their Negars to carry them in Caroches and Chaires , the meanest of them in Emackos ( yet I saw the time when they were glad to make vse of their feete to saue their liues . ) The Towne of Saluadoe had in it many whores , some of them being left behinde remained in the Towne all the time wee remained there , which was a snaire to our Commanders and a maine cause to the Lord to recompence vs according to all hee did to the former adulterous people that were cast out before vs ; These Portugals are partly Iewish partly Romish , and a great part of them are very A theists ( hauing no outward reformation to any religion . )

This people hath had long peace , euery one sitting vnder his owne vine , hauing plenty of all things , but considered not from whence they enioyed them , they looked not to the giuer of them . But though they would not looke vp to God in way of thankfulnesse and true obedience , yet God ( after long forbearance did in iustice looke vpon them , their pride , their whoredome , their Sodome-like idlenesse , and their Romish Idolatrie ( in steed of their prayers ) hath peirced the heauens , and did make way for the wrath of God to come vpon them which came vpon them sodainly in a moment , which strocke feare and terrour to their hearts , and palenesse in their faces , distraction and desperation in their mindes . A Nation out of the North came vpon them , a people whose language they vnderstood not hastily assaulted them , so that though their pots were on boyling , their Negars cooking , yea though their tables were couered , their wine drawne , yet had they no stomackes to eate , not harts to inui●e the strangers that were come vpon their Coast , yet those strangers fell a board hauing good stomackes , not hauing the manners to stay till they were bidden , but it was likely the meate would haue ben cold had they stayed till they had beene inuited , for they were gon in hast out of the Towne , but made no hast to returne in againe , their hast was such that they left their Iewels , Rings , their Gold and Siluer behind them , yea some vnnaturall Mothers left their Children in their cradles . Behold and wonder : Behold for thy instruction , thou Land , Citie or Man , which art lifted vpon glory , what the Lord did vnto this people , the Lord gaue them riches , yea great riches , peace and plenty was in their borders , they had their harts desire , so far as naturally they could haue .

The M●rchandize of the West-India was not wanting in her , the curious workes of Turkie was the adorning of their houses , the fine cloaths of England and Spaine , with Wine , Oyle , and Fish , and much fine flower was in her , the fine linnen and threed of Holland and Flauders was found in her , the Iewels of the Sea precious stones with the bones of Fishes and Beasts were there , there was not wanting Muske , Siuet , Corall , Amber , Amber-greece , Pomander , in a word what Merchandize and commoditie that may be had in that honorable Citie of London , fit for the Nobilitie and Gentrie but was there for people of meane condition , I say the Lord did giue to them these and greater things in aboundance , but in that they spent them to pride , idolatrie and whoredome , and the satisfying of their fleshly and wicked desires , the Lord hath stript them naked and taken their glorie from them , puting them into the hands of an other people , our neighbour Nation Hollanders by name ; I say the Lord put them into their hands , but they trampled them vnder feete , I doe not say the Lord gaue those things to them , for the following Treatise will truely and plainely discouer , that for the Hollanders great abuse of that great glorie the Lord put into their hands , the Lord tooke it againe out of their hands , and hath placed it in the power of the Spaniard , but let the Spaniard take heede , the birde hath wings that is in their handes . So much for the discouery of Brasile , wherein I must acknowledge I haue ben much wanting , and on maruile . For first I haue not ben in the Land , because wee were in a manner beleaguered all our being there . Secondly , because I had not the vse of the Portugals tongue , whereby I might haue made further enquirie . Thirdly , because of an accident that fell out being homeward bound , I had my booke of remembrance taken out of my Cabbine by some as had no great loue to an English-man .

THe leuenth of Nouember 1623 , there was a Fleete of the Hollanders waied anchor at Taxell , pretending to goe for the West-India , the Fleete was 25 ships in number , having a strong wind there was some dispertion of the Shiping , so that we lost our Colonels ship , which came not to vs untill we had taken in the Towne of Saluado . After some moneths saile , we came to an Iland called S. Vinsons Iland , adioyning to S. Anthonies Iland , some 20 Leagues from the South Ilands , where the Fleete stayed 13 weekes , in which time there was diuerse sloopes made , this Iland hath an excellent Harbour & there is very good watering . The Iland is very barren , yet it hath ( as I gesse some 20. thowsand Goates in it . The souldiers going on land , would catch some 400. at a time by compassing them in . I leaue this digression . The Fleete waying Anchor made their course for Brasil , contrary to the expectation of the Souldiers . In twentie dayes the Fleete passed the line , and with a faire gale of wind discovered on Tuesday the twentie of Aprill the coast of Brazil , where the ten Companyes of souldiers were put into foure Shipps . On Wednesday we were seeking but could not find the Bay of Saluadoe . On Thursday the 30. of April we found it , and with a faire wind we went into the Bay . At our comming in St. Anthonies Castell saluted the Admirall with two or three shott , who had the like gratulation from the Fleete . Where one of our Shippes did send a shott that uncapped the Castell . Before which Castell the Ships which had the Captaines and land souldiers anchored ; the Admirall , the foure Ships did goe some two miles below the towne , the rest of the Ships cast Anchor before the towne , where wee were welcomed by the battery and Shippes of the townes who for two howers , did very manfully defend their place and discharge their peeces , but the Hollanders did ouer man them , and over match them , that within three houer , they had sunke some eleven of their Ships and burnt some of them , the Vice Admirall himselfe in a shallop went very boldly to the Fort , and he with his sword and Pistoll , set foote on the battery , upon which the Portugalls left the water side , and fled up into the towne , so that the sea-faring men made plunder of the towne the same night .

In the meane space the souldiers were landed , the Castell made many shots at the floopes and boates of the souldiers , but not any was touched , notwithstanding they made some fortie shots , but when a few of the Souldiers were landed , they fled and left their goods for their enimyes . The armie marched to the towne without any interruption , we came before the towne about nine of the clocke at night , they made some 100. shot at our Armie , yet our souldiers made not any shot to them , but came vnder the Port by the order of a guide , who did purpose to goe a backe way into the towne , when the enimy could do no good from the Port with their Muskets to our people , because they were vnder the wall they cast stones . The Leiftenant Colonell wheled the Army on , marching in a narrow lane , the enemy contrary to the expectation of the guid , had made a little breast worke : from whence they did play vpon our Army , at which instant their were killed the Leiftenant Colonel and a gentleman next to him , vpon the which the soldiers retreated , at their retreat there came out of a house by the gate some 30 Musketters and made a vollie of short at our souldiers , at which there fell an Englishman one Philip Rowlands and a Dutch Canoner , which Musketiers went into the Port , we being to my knowledge within fortie yardes of the gate , Captaine Maior Scoutton commanded a Retreat to a Cloyster , halfe a Musket shot from the towne , whereupon the souldiers did lay downe their Armes , and went to Plander the out-houses and Cloysters , and finding much wine , halfe of the soldiers were drunke , and also some of the commanders lay scattering on the ground , but the enemyes not thinking how to doe any exployte on vs , tooke not advantage thereat , but with all speed in the night time made their flight from the towne , onely their remained some fortie soldiers with the Governour .

At the breake of day there was Arme , Arme , all to their colours and places , intending to goe on the towne , the Captaines not knowing what the Shippes had done , nor what the towne had done , whilest we were preparing for the making of an assault on the towne , the white flag from the towne was discovered , which was brought out to Captaine Maior , who marched into the towne to the market place where all the Companies were drawne in batalio , and so commanded to seuerall parts of the towne , The Governour with some twentie more , with two Iesuites : were presently sent prisoners into the Shipps . The soldiers leaving their Armes , made boote of all things they could come to in the towne , where there was much spoile of breaking of Tables and Chests wherein there was much riches , and great spoyle of wine , so that I haue gone to the ancles in wine in cellars , I suppose that there was spoild , twentie thousand pounds , which might haue ben well saved by carefull Officers . I thinke that the valew that Officers , Soldiers , and sea-faring men got , was more in value then that which came into accompts for the Masters of the Voyage , and yet it was cr●dibly reported , that the bootie which was got then : was fiue Millions . Two dayes after the taking in of the towne , the Governour , the Colonell and the Lord of Dort came with his Ships and Slopes , who vnderstanding that the towne of bay was taken in , he stormed and tooke on mightily that he had lost the honor of the day in not taking the towne himselfe .

The Portugalls which were in the towne were kindly intreated , and their houses and goods they possesse freely , all that came into the Towne had passes from the Colonell , they promising to vse their best for the bringing in of the Portugals to traficke , but the Portugals had not sooner obtained their end , namely the fetching out of their hid riches in the Towne , but they shewed themselues treacherous ; for some 26 daies after the Towne was taken in , two of the souldiers going into the Land were killed by the Portugals , the Colonell was much in censed thereat , and going out of the Towne he tooke fiue Portugals whom hee caused to be shot to death without the Towne .

The same morning the Colonell with some twelue horsemen went out of the Towne , with some twenty Negars and a squadron of men , the Colonell riding before some twenty yeards in a narrow path , and woods on both sides , the Portugals lying in ambush got about the Colonell , a Negar shot him in the brest , and the Portugals puld him of his horse , who kild him and cut of his head and other parts , the most of the horsemen & souldiers retired to the Towne , yet an English-man brought in his head , vpon which there was a great alarme , but nothing done worth the writing . In his place there was made Colonell Captaine Alden Soulton , his brother William Soulton was made Captaine Maior .

Some ten daies after , the Admirall with two ships made his course for Holland .

Three daies after , the Vice-Admirall with seuen shippes 250 souldiers hesides saylours went for Angoly , which was a hart-smart to some , and a weakening to the Towne , as also an encouragement to the Spaniard to heare of the weakening of the Towne .

The same day their went also foure shippes to the Salt Ilands , and so for Holland . So that there was left in the Towne but foure men of warre , and some fiue small ships besides the prizes .

Some fiue weekes after the Towne was taken in , there came in a ship into the Bay from Lishorne which the Sloopes tooke , in it was Oyle and Flower , and other Merchandize .

The same weeke there came two ships from Angolia with some 1200 Negars , they came among our ships before that they found the Towne was the Hollanders , the one yeilded and cast anchor , the other loward his sailes and made as if they would cast anchor , but passing by our shippes into the Land-ward , hoysed saile and away into the Land , our sloopes and shippes followed her but came backe without her .

The latter end of Iuly there came another ship from Fernabuck , who making in , our sloopes with a pinnace and shippe made out , shee suspecting something made out but the winde was against her , the sloopes got to the wind of her and made fight , yet she would not stricke saile , till the man of warre gaue her a shot , then she strucke , there was Tobacco and Sugar in her , with Siluer and other commodities to a good value .

The beginning of August there came another shippe in the morning amongst ours , yet she got away into the Land : It was reported by a Negar that came from the Enemie that the shippe had eight iron pieces and other munition , with wine and other prouision ,

About the twelfth of August 1624 , there came a ship into the Bay , hauing a forewinde and ready to cast anchor , a 〈◊〉 from vs boarded them , the Admirall of our shippes was in the sloope ( who now remaines with the Spaniards , the reason whereof I shall after shewe ) hee comming into the Cabine found the Gouernour of Reginero Deplato , his wife and three daughters and two sonnes in law , the Admirall Captaine Cherk most badly went to search the Ladies , which was very grieuous to the Gouernour , he told him in Spanish , that there was no neede of that straitnesse , for there were chaines , iewells , and plate enough besides . In which shippe all their pots and vessells were of siluer . I my selfe had the weight of the vessells of siluer which came to 150000 pound . Certainely it was a rich prize . The Gouernour was well entertained , with his wife and daughters , one of them was thought to bee ouer kindly vsed , if it bee not true , yet the Colonell was much to be blamed for his priuate entertainment of some of them into his chamber , and in that he was truely condemned for a whoremaster , for hee was not ashamed to goe in the middle of the day to an open whore-house , which whore he caused to be married to a Dutch Merchant or Factour , to whom hee gaue a horse that hee might ride abroade whilest hee had the key of the Factours house at home . This Colonell was also a great drunkard , his brother Williams Scoulton Maior , did diuerse times reproue him for his wickednesse .

In September 1624 he sent a partie of 25 souldiers and some Negars , to gather Plantings and Oranges for his whores two miles out of the Towne ; their Commaunder was the Leiftenant to Captaine Isanack with a Sariant of the same Companie , when they came to the place where the Oranges and Plantings were , the souldiers with the Negars left their armes on the ground and went vnto the trees , the Portugals comming on them with some 200 , fell vpon them kild nine souldiers and the Leiftenant , tooke prisoners the Sariant with some Negars , the rest went into the woods and hid themselues : some of the Negars came into the Towne and made a great alarume , 200 went forth to relieue them , and did fetch of the nine dead men , but not the Leiftenant . Some ten daies after that , the Enemie came to a by-gard and kild two , and the rest escaped into the woods .

About the latter end of September 1624 Colonell Al. den Scoulton died sodainly being much swolne with drinking .

The next day after , the Counsell made choise of William Scoulton for Colonell , and Captaine Kyfe for Maior .

The former Colonell did shew himselfe more carefull in fortifying the Towne then his brother William Scoulton : for the former would yeald to aduise of those who had better vnderstanding then he in those particulars , but this man would haue his words without counsell for Law though it were contrary to all reason : this man did much reproue his brother in his life time , for whoring and dronkennes , and he himselfe when he was Colonel , did farre worse in those particulers .

In October , their came a Ship of some 140. Tunne from Holland with a prize in it , it brought tidings that the Marchants of the West India , had provided a great Fleete for our releife , and was readie to come out of Taxell . In the Christmas holidayes , the Colonel with most of his Captaines & Skippers , were for foure dayes together feasting in their foure men of Warre , and at every health , they had three peeces of Ordnance shot off out of every Ship , in those foure dayes it was counted , there was shot off , 1600. shot by water and land , somewhat too much to be wasted especially in that forraine land , the want of it was felt not long after .

In three weekes after , there came three Shippes and each of them got a prize , they likewise brought tydings of the Fleete , there were also letters sent that the Spanish Fleete would be at the ( Bay ) at the beginning of May ; yet to my knowledge there was not any extraordinary making of provision there .

On Friday morning the 3. of Aprill , there were discovered some 12. Shippes vpon the coast , but not discryed what they were , at 12. of the clock there was a rumour that they saw a 100 , saile that the sea was full of Shiping , all was in a maze , yet nothing done , at foure of the clocke their Fleete came to Anchor without the Bay some Leage to the North of S. Authonies Castell , then they were told to bee some 50 Shippes , there was great talke what Fleete it should be , some said it was the Spanish others the Hollanders .

Saturday the 4 of April there came betimes in the morning , nine small saile out of the land ward , who did passe our Shippes and so went to the Fleete , the sloopes and Shippes might haue preuented that , but thy did not , what there reason was I know not , I guesse but I will not writ .

About eleuen of the clock the same day , the Fleete wayed Anchor and came with a faire wind and tide into the bay , and cast Anchor some mile from the Towne altogether , then the doubt was resolved , the Spanish cullers proclaimed that our enemyes were arrived , them might you haue seene palenes in faces , and amazement in most countenances , such were the distractions of them , that no speedie resolution could be resolved one , at this time wee had in our Harbor foure men of warre , two great Marchant Shippes , Sixe Youghts , three sloopes , three fire shippes . We had Sailors and Soldiers some 2200. fit for to beare Armes , besides some 700. Negers : It was thought by some , that had they sent forth then their firie shippes with their Youghts , and sloopes , they might haue made a good peece of service on their enemyes , for we had a fare fore-wind and a darke Evening , and men fit and willing to haue gon on that service , but the Colonel would not admit of any such thing . The next day , the enemy landed their Land-man : two miles from the Towne , and came marching within Musket shott of the Towne , yet our commander lay still : onely they then beganne to fortifie the Towne . The same Sunday night , the Souldiers which were in the Castell some sixe miles from the towme , came in a sloope to the Towne : by the command of the Colonel , they made that hast away , that they left fourteene dayes provision for 30. men behind them , power & shot , foure peeces of Ordnance with divers Musketts , yet the Leiftenant was not blamed for it .

On Monday the 6 of Aprill , the enemy did fall downe with his Shipping below the Towne , where they landed their bag and baggage , and the sicke men with their Pee●es and Church-men . At Eleveen a clocke the same day there went out some 300. soldiers vnder the command of Captaine Maior Kife , and Captaine Hellman● , at which time we had taken from vs one English man , and their was killed one Dutch-man and a Scotch-man wounded , they were not out one houre but they came in againe , with many buffe coates , and gilt Rapiers and Ponyards , with the slaughter of many cheife commanders and soldiers , .

An English Constable told me on the Spanish side ( after the Towne was deliueréd vp , ) that in that out fall there were kild and wounded some 170 , had they beene but seconded with 300 more out of the Towne , it had ben a good daies worke indeed .

The Enemie after this was some sixe dayes still , onely their shippes now and then did make a shot , but our Ordnance from the Forte did shoote them through and through , that made them way anchor and lay farther from the place .

Some ten daies after they came to besidge vs , they sunke three peeces of Ordnance on the side of an hill to the seaward vpon our ships , and hardly did they make a shot but they shot into the ships , where they kild and wounded many of our saylours , yet they drew the shippes neare to the shoare , I could not conceiue nor cannot apprehend to what purpose they did leaue their Munition and prouision in their shippes , with some 250 saylours , whereas they could not doe any thing to the Enemie from their shippes , either by sea or land ; not long had the Enemie plaide at our ships but the Enemie had wounded and kild some 70 of our sea-fayring-men , and brought to ground some soure of our small shippes and the Admirall , to the great losse of prouision and Munition , then somewhat late they commanded the saylours to forsake the shippes , and in the night they got some of their Pieces with some of their prouision on land .

Within 16 daies after the beleaguering , our people had planted on the sea side in Forts and other places 36 pieces of Ordnance , they had 300 Musqueters on the water side .

The Enemie had planted against the Towne to the new Port ward called Iasanaks Port three halfe Cannons , the bullets was 28 and 36 pound , the first shot that did hit the new Port went through and through , it might haue been fitter called a baubell then a Port , fitter for banqueting then battering . The Towne lay so low , and the hills without so high , that the Enemie did not make Forts , but sunke their Ordance in the gronud . The Enemie did begin to make a batterie neare to the same side of the Towne , the Constable of Iasanacks Port perceiuing the same , did make diuerse shot ( hee was an English-man ) to the great disturbance of the Enemie , but the Colonell did come and command him that he should not shoote at all : the like was commanded to the other Constables , to the wonder of all : all that was alledged by this Colonell was the want of Munition , if it was true , how worthy of reproofe was he , that would wast so much before in iesting , as I haue noted before : but if there was Munition enough ( as there was ) I thinke there was iust suspition of treacherie . The Enemie had within fiue daies placed in that batterie fiue halfe Cannons and presently dismounted our Ordnance on that side of the Towne , then they would but could not play with their Ordance , and when the Colonell was required to suffer to take sacks of cotton and peeces of bayes to stop the the breaches that they might remount their Peices , hee would not yeald thereto .

It was also reported that ●●e Colonell had three seuerall Letters from the Spanish Generall , but there was on good proofe thereof , yet after the Towne was deliuered vp , the man that said hee brought the Letters did testifie the truth of it , nominating the time and place , where and when hee met the Colonell : this I had from Captaine Deshen one that was of the Counsell who is with the Spaniard now .

It was likewise reported that the Colonel with two other Captaines , did intend to flie away in a small Shippe .

Some three weekes after the Leaguer , the enemy had planted nine Peeces of Ordnance at the other Port , and foure in another place , and fiue in another place , so that there was in all thirty seven halfe Cannons .

Wee had mounted in the Towne 61. Peeces , but after the Enemy had mounted and planted their Ordnance , they dismounted ours , so that we had not foure Peeces mounted , then they began to make new Fortes in the Towne , and blinds : vpon those reports of the Colonel aboue named , the Souldiers began to speake and mutter many things against the Colonel , and Councell and Captaines . The Souldiers reported , that th●ir Captaines , nor Leiftenants , would not in the day time come in the works and tronches , It is some what credible , for they are like vnto those Captaines , which were knowne by their rich attire , not by their wounds .

The Souldiers some fiue dayes before the Towne was given over , went and complained to the Captaines that the Colonel was treacherous to the Towne , and the desired that they would make another Colonel , and they would spend their liues in defence of the Towne , otherwise they said , they would kill him and make another of their owne choyse , this was one Satturday morning the 25. of Aprill , at Eleven of the clocke on Satturday , there was a great alarum , so that we thought verely that they would haue made an assault on the Towne , we had killed and wounded in two houres some fourteene men . At the same time there was a Souldier , going to fill his Bandaleroes with Powder , he having his light match in his hand did foolishly sett fire on the Powder , to the burning of some sixteene men , some to death , all to great misery , at two of the clocke the Alarum ceased , so that every man was commanded to his Colors .

At foure of the Clocke , there went to the market place some fiftie souldiers ( as they say ) by some Captaines private assents , the Colonels seeing them marching towards him comes to them , demaunds the cause of their coming , one answered that they came to put out such a treacherous fellow as he , and to make choise of one that would be faithfull : for their Master and for the Towne , but before he could reply ( as I was told ) one struke him downe with his Musket , and other with their swords , but he got from them into the house wounded , the souldiers presently turned to the Major Captaine Kyfe : and requyred of him to take the protection of the Towne , and them and they with all they souldiers would dy with him , he accepted the same and promised the same .

On Monday the 27 of Aprill , there was one from the enemy which called to the Centrie on the Port that they would send a Drumme forth , presently it was told to the Colonel together with the Councell , who speedily sent forth a Drumme , when the Enemy saw the Drumme , they requyred the cause of the Drummes comming forth , it was answered because they called for one , they replyed that they did not call , but seeing there was one come , hee was commanded to be brought to the generall , who returned an answer to vs , that his Commission was to destroy all the Hollanders , and to put the English and French to the Gallies , yet if they would seeke for mercy , he would in his owne Clemencie , giue vs all our liues ; vpon this truce was taken for 6. houres , no sooner was this noysed , but that the Enemy came over their works , and brooke some pales downe , and the Souldiers on both sides did ralke freindly together , two from the Enemy was let in blind-fold and led to the Colonel . There were conditons propounded on our part , but thought to great to be granted by the Enemy . Truce was continued for 24. hours , and two from our Captaines sent to the Generall of the Enemy , others also came from the Enemy , in the meane time , I saw the Enemy working ( contrary to order . )

Truce was continued till Wednesday . On Wednesday , their went a souldier to the Councell , and told them that the souldiers did vnderstand , they would not yeild vnto those conditions the enemy propounded , so that it would be the losse of all their liues , for which reason he said that the souldiers were purposed to giue vp the Towne , if they would not make composition , they thanked the souldier for his speech , but did not enquyer from whom hee had heard the same conspiracie .