General put himself into the bark Francis as Admiral; and all this
night we lay on the sea, bearing small sail until our arrival to the
landing-place, which was about the breaking of the day. And so we
landed, being New Year's Day, nine or ten miles to the westwards of that
brave city of St. Domingo; for at that time nor yet is known to us
any landing-place, where the sea-surge doth not threaten to overset
a pinnace or boat. Our General having seen us all landed in safety,
returned to his fleet, bequeathing us to God, and the good conduct of
Master Carlile, our Lieutenant-General; at which time, being about eight
of the clock, we began to march. And about noon-time, or towards one of
the clock, we approached the town; where the gentleman and those of the
better sort, being some hundred and fifty brave horses, or rather more,
began to present themselves. But our small shot played upon them, which
were so sustained with good proportion of pikes in all parts, as they
finding no part of our troop unprepared to receive them (for you must
understand they viewed all round about) they were thus driven to give us
leave to proceed towards the two gates of the town which were the next
to the seaward. They had manned them both, and planted their ordnance
for that present and sudden alarm without the gate, and also some troops
of small shot in _ambuscado_ upon the highway side. We divided our whole
force, being some thousand or twelve hundred men, into two parts, to
enterprise both the gates at one instant; the Lieutenant-General having
openly vowed to Captain Powell, who led the troop that entered the other
gate, that with God's good favour he would not rest until our meeting in
the market-place.

Their ordnance had no sooner discharged upon our near approach, and made
some execution amongst us, though not much, but the Lieutenant-General
began forthwith to advance both his voice of encouragement and pace of
marching; the first man that was slain with the ordnance being very near