maner like vnto a ditch or moate; and on the other side of the Riuer there lieth a great Lake or Pond which is full of water all the Winter, and part of the Sommer, so that on this side the city is very strong, for with very small store of souldiers this place might bee kept verie well.
The best way to take Panama. The greatest danger for the surprising of this citie is the way that doth come from Nombre de Dios: for all this way is playne ground and no woods: and 2000 yardes from this citie there lieth a riuer called Lauanderas, where the women doe vse to wash their linnen: and this riuer doth goe into the creeke, according as I haue certified your maiestie: and being once past this riuer, there is a causey which goeth directly vnto them. The other way which doth go towards the citie is lower downe towards the sea at a stone bridge lying vpon the way which goeth to the harbour of Perico. These two wayes cannot be kept nor resisted, because it is all plaine ground and medowes.
Vpon the East side of this citie there are your maiesties royall houses builded vpon a rocke ioining hard to the Sea side, and they doe as well leane towards the sea as the land. The royall audience or chancerie is kept here in these houses, and likewise the prison. And in this place all your maiesties treasure is kept. There dwelleth in these houses your maiesties Treasurer, the Lord President, and 3. Iudges, and master Atturney. All these doe dwell in these houses, and the rest of your maiesties officers: which are sixe houses besides those of the Lord President, the which are all dwelling houses, and all adioining together one by another along vpon the rockes. And they are builded all of timber and bourdes, as the other houses are. So where the prison standeth and the great hall, these two places may bee very well fortified, because they serue so fitly for the purpose, by reason they are builded towardes the sea, and that there lye certaine small rocks, which at a lowe water are all discouered and drie, and some of them are seene at a high water.
An Island in the harbour of Panama. Right ouer these houses to the Eastwardes there lyeth an Island about fiue hundred yardes from these houses, and the Island is in forme of a halfe moone; and in this order it runneth all alongst very neere the maine land: so ouer against these houses there lyeth the harbour where all the shippes doe vse to ride at an anker, after that they haue discharged and vnladen their marchandize. For when they haue their lading
