wee haue much to doe to make them to stay here: so nowe by reason of these souldiers which shall come hither, the people of the citie haue taken heart of grasse: so I haue tolde them that your maiestie will command that this citie and the Harbour shall be better fortified and made stronger, and all this which I haue caused to be builded, is with that money which I haue borowed of the citizens.
As touching the safegard and defence of this harbour, if your maiestie so please, here may we builde a very faire and strong castle with foure bulwarks, on the poynt of the Ycacos which doth lie on the side where the citie is builded, because, all the shippes which doe come to this harbour, must come close abord this shore, so neere, that wee may cast a stone into them, and so ouertake any ship. So likewise if the shippes will goe on the other shore, then they doe goe in greater danger, because of those shoalds and ledges of rockes, and so are often cast away. And forasmuch as those ships which here doe arriue are brought hither by Easterly winds, and sometimes with those winds which come out from the sea, and therefore perforce must giue a good birth off otherwise they cannot enter into this harbour, therefore of necessity they must come so close to the shore: And on the other side where the Island of Cares standeth, there may wee builde another tower foure-square, and plant some foure or fiue pieces of ordinance, and this will serue for the night, if occasion be offered that any small shippe or barke should come in here, or any pinnesse in the night, to doe any harme, or to attempt to burne any Fleete which shoulde ride here at an anker within this harbour: so the fort beeing on the one side, and the tower on the other side, keeping good watch, there can no shippe nor barke come into this harbour, but they will bee espied.
In the narrow mouth at the entring in the other way towardes the Island of Cares, where the channell doth runne neere the shore, as I haue alreadie certified your maiestie, there may another castle be made, and there foure or fiue pieces of ordinance planted, and some sixe or eight men to keepe watch and ward: this being done, your maiestie shall haue this citie very well fortified, by reason it is of such importance for the seruice of your maiestie and the trade of all Spaine and Peru, and all the Indies: for this is the principall fort of all this countrey.
Ouer against this point of the Ycacos, in the Isle of Cares, hard by the water side, there are great store of stones, free stones, and
