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 town, and by reason
of the time which we spent in marching up and down the Mount, the
soldiers and inhabitants had put themselves in arms, and brought their