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
the Spaniards were gone from the fort; offering either to remain in
hands there, or else to return to the place with them that would go.
[The 'Prince of Orange's Song' was a popular ditty in praise of
William Prince of Orange (assassinated 1584), the leader of the Dutch
Protestant insurgents.]
Upon this intelligence the General, the Lieutenant-General, with some
of the captains in one skiff and the Vice-Admiral with some others in
his skiff, and two or three pinnaces furnished of soldiers with them,
put presently over towards the fort, giving order for the rest of the
pinnaces to follow.
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