SIR JOSIAS BODLEY to LORD CAREW.

Upon my last receipt of that small sum which was remaining of the moneys demanded and granted for the forts in Munster and Galway, I presently resumed the care of that business; surveyed diligently those several places, gave directions for perfecting the works and supplied them with sufficient means for the same so far as my allowance would extend, that by this time, the most part of them, and by Allhallowtide, they will be thoroughly finished. That you may the better be satisfied concerning the present state and strength of each place, I have thought good to signify how I found them, and how they are left.

Doncanon.

At the fort of Doncanon, whereas the rampier that encloseth the same at the lands side, by reason of the weakness thereof (for it exceeded not twelve foot in thickness), could but meanly have resisted any battery, and by reason of its lowness lay open to exceeding annoyance from the high grounds without, I caused the same with "rice" and earth to be enforced to more than double that thickness, and raised it to such height as might secure the defenders from those commanding hills, I scoured the ditch, made new the drawbridge and gate, placed a pallisado on the counterscarp, built a lodge over the port, and repaired the decays of the casemates. And as that neck of land which comprises the circuit of the fort by reason of the convexity thereof, lay so open both to the haven and the neighbouring hills on each side, that men could not safely show themselves upon it, or descend without danger towards the platforms in time of service, I encompassed the same with a stone wall, well rampiered behind with earth, on the east and west sides, and on the front towards the haven raised a work of earth and sods with a mount for defence of the platforms. The platforms being formerly not above 14 or 15 foot broad, I enlarged them to more than double that breadth, by cutting the rock behind them (which rose to more than 24 foot in height), plaunched [Flanked.] them and made them fit for present use. The lodgings for the warders with the square pile at the end of the inner wall, which were much ruined, I caused to be repaired. Of what strength this place is, both by natural site and by this late enforcement, and how much it may import the King's service in those parts I leave to your experienced consideration. This only I will add, that as I have heard it objected that notwithstanding the command which this fort has over that harbour, an invading enemy may securely land his forces in divers other parts of that haven, and march forward at his pleasure, it may easily be imagined that no enemy would be so ill-advised as to leave a place of such moment at his back, from which he might be continually prosecuted; besides, for any army to infest those quarters without the benefit of that river which the fort has taken from them, the country affording little or no means for their carriages by land, is a matter of extreme difficulty. And admitting that an enemy's fleet should hazard with full sail to pass by that fort into the harbour (for without there is no safe riding) yet shall they not hinder the relieving of the same, and consequently the succouring of that country, either by land or by sea, except they be masters of them both, which may likewise be alleged for those of Haleboling, Castle Parck and Galway.

Haleboling

The fort of Haleboling upon the river of Cork, which I found altogether defective, being little more than half made up, I caused in almost all parts of the bulwarks curtains and parapets to be repaired, the gate to be finished with a gatehouse over the same, and a row of lodgings to be built for the soldiers and officers, a platform of convenient length and breadth to be made for command of shipping. And, that with those few hands appointed for the guard thereof, it might withstand any sudden surprize or forcible assault whatsoever, I caused a square tower or castle to be erected in the middle of the fort, and so contrived the same that the defendants upon any alarm mounting up to the battlements (without entering the rooms appointed for victuals and munition) might from thence, as from a citadel, scour and fire the ramparts and other defences. Of fresh water they are abundantly supplied by means of a well which I caused to be digged in the island, a small distance from the fort, which proves exceeding sweet and of such quality both summer and winter as may serve above 500 persons for all uses. In brief, there is not anything wanting to the necessary fortification of that place, neither could there, in my opinion, any fitter seat have been chosen for the same, both in regard of the natural strength thereof and conveniency of situation for service.

Castle Parck

The fort of Castle Parck, on the haven of Kinsale, was by the first plots laid out of such capacity that hardly 500 could have manned the walls. To have pulled down and levelled some parts thereof, and reduced the rest into a lesser form, had been with much cost to have made a weak and irregular piece of work, for which I thought good to raise a certain edifice in form of a square of stonework in the midst thereof, placing two castles at two opposite angles for flanking the whole work, whereof the one might serve for the magazine of victuals for all the forces of that province (if need were) and the other for the munition. The lodgings for the warders and officers being built on the sides of that square, with an open court in the midst, and for the better strengthing both of those lodgings and castles, I caused the same to be encompassed with a stone wall of 15 or 16 feet in height, well backed with earth on the inner side, and of good breadth for the advantage of the defendants, the angles and flanks thereof so well rampiered that from thence with great shot they might scour the whole circumference of the fort. A ditch was also made of sufficient depth and width, and thereon a drawbridge. From this wall the soldiers have free ascent to the battlements of the castles, from whence also they may secure the whole precinct, neither shall they need more defenders than the warders enrolled for that place. The ruins in the ramparts of the old fort I procured to be made up, filled the empty bulwarks with earth, and levelled them for the use of ordnance, caused also the gate, gate-house, and drawbridge to be finished. This fort besides that it lies most aptly to command that harbour, for which purpose only there wants some lower platform, which the King's allowance at this time could not compass, is so spacious within the walls, and that space so well defended by the inner work, that whensoever there shall be cause great numbers may retire thither as to a safe and sure refuge.

Castle of Limerick.

At the King's Castle at Limerick, the foundation of the round towers were so undermined with the continual beating of the river against them, that in divers places a cart might have passed under them, the half towers at the gate, and the rest of the wall, being in like manner ruined, all which I caused substantially to be repaired, as also the munition house and other parts of the castle. And as that whole fabric, consisting in manner of a square, had only three towers at three corners thereof, and the corner lying towards the town altogether unfortified, having neither ditch or other outwork to hinder the approach of an enemy to the very fort of the wall, I thought fit to cast out a bulwark at that unfortified corner of hewed stone, equal in height to the former wall and capable of 5 or 6 pieces of ordnance, also to draw a ditch about the whole work, and cut off all access to the same except by a drawbridge, which I caused also to be framed, and I laid new planks upon the round towers, providing the like for the new bulwark, setting up divers roofs, where they were needful, and flooring certain rooms in the towers. There is yet wanting a convenient house for the constable and some lodgings for the warders, which it may please you to consider.

St Augustine's Fort, near Galway.

The fort at Galway being raised by the first plotters with earth and sods against the sides of a hill, grew shortly so subject to sliding, that how to remedy the same and support that huge mass of earth which they had cast up they knew no better expedient than by binding in the fort round about with a stone wall of between 10 and 12 feet, which, notwithstanding the earth above that wall shot out, and divers breaches successively happened. To meet this inconvenience and reduce that place to terms of true fortification, finding that the wall could bear no greater height, I caused another stone wall on a new foundation to be made, leaving 4 or 5 foot distance between that and the former for a passage between both the walls, and raised the same to some 18 foot of height, that it might be equal with the plan of the rampier. On the lower wall I set a parapet of 5 foot high of stonework, and on the other a parapet of sods, which I judged fitter for that place; caused a ditch to be digged about the fort, vaulted passages through the rampier for sallies into the lower defences, erected a dwelling-house for the commander and officers, with lodgings for the soldiers, made up the drawbridge, gate, gatehouse, and guard house, and so divided the chancel and body of the church within the fort by partitions of stone, from the ground to the roof, thus leaving sufficient space for divine service, of which the rest may conveniently be employed for the store of munition and victuals. This fort has little command over the haven, being somewhat remote, for which, if on the island that lies between the mouth of the haven and the fort, there were a small blockhouse made (which, for the expense of 2 or 300l., might be effected), it would remove all doubt of safety and security of those parts, that fort being of such strength that I dare confidently assure you neither this kingdom nor many others affordeth any comparable unto it.

Signed.