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
companies in some order, at the south-east end of the Market Place, near
the Governor's House, and not far from the gate of the town, which is
the only one, leading towards Panama: having (as it seems) gathered
themselves thither, either that in the Governor's sight they might shew
their valour, if it might prevail; or else, that by the gate they might
best take their _Vale_, and escape readiest.
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