The original houses have been either rebuilt or so much repaired that their ancient character can no longer be traced; but many of them were standing within living memory.

They were in general two stories in height; and some of them had stone staircases on the outside.

The dwellings were encompassed by a wall of which the whole circumference was little less than a mile.

On the bastions were planted culverins and sakers presented by the wealthy guilds of London to the colony.

On some of these ancient guns, which have done memorable service to a great cause, the devices of the Fishmongers' Company, of the Vintners' Company, and of the Merchant Tailors' Company are still discernible, [132] The inhabitants were Protestants of Anglosaxon blood.