The Duke of GUISE [_known as, Le Balafré_], being General of the French army, proceeded in this enterprise with marvellous policy. For approaching the English frontier [_known in our history as the English Pale_], under colour to victual Boulogne and Ardes; he entered upon the same, on a sudden [_on 1st January, 1558_]; and took a little bulwark [_fortification_] called Sandgate, by assault. He then divided his army into two parts, sending one part with certain great pieces of artillery along the downs [_sandhills_] by the seaside towards Risbank [_or Ruisbank, a detached fort in Calais harbour. See Vol. II. p. 39_]; and the other part, furnished also with battery pieces, marched straight forth to Newnham [_or Newhaven_] Bridge: meaning to batter the two forts, both at one time. Which thing he did with such celerity, that coming thither very late in the evening, he was master of both by the next morning. At the first shot discharged at Newnham Bridge, the head of the Master Gunner of that piece [_fort_], whose name was HORSELEY, was clean stricken off. The Captain [_NICHOLAS ALEXANDER_] considering the great power of the French army; and having his fort but slenderly manned to make sufficient resistance, fled to Calais. And by the time he was come thither, the other part of the French army that went by the seaside, with their battery, had won Risbank; being abandoned [_by Captain JOHN HARLESTONE_] to their hands. The next day [_2nd of January_], the Frenchmen, with five double-cannons and three culverins, began a battery from the sandhills next Risbank, against the town of Calais; and continued the same, by the space of two or three days, until they made a little breach in the wall next unto the Water Gate, which, nevertheless, was not yet assaultable: for that which was broken in the day, was by them within the town made up again in the night, stronger than afore. But the battery was not begun there by the French because they intended to enter in that place; but rather to abuse [_deceive_] the English, to have the less regard to the defence of the Castle: which was the weakest part of the town, and the place where they were we ascertained, by their espials, to win an easy entry.