Its gaudy painting, with suns, compasses, and mottoes, was all in keeping: the last included _Post tenebras lux_, _Glory be to God_, _Pax in terra_. The rooms included a kitchen and accommodation for the keepers, a state-room, finely carved and painted, a chimney, two store cupboards and two windows. This is Winstanley’s own description accompanying the engraving. In this picture he complacently fishes from the state-room window. How unlike other lighthouses! It was a tower of defence; it possessed a kind of movable shoot on the top, by which he could shower stones upon an enemy attacking the building on any side. How characteristic of the man—the jeers and warnings of his fellow-men only excited his obstinacy. [Illustration: WINSTANLEY’S EDDYSTONE LIGHTHOUSE.] The question of returning to the mainland did not then much disturb the minds of the dwellers in the lighthouse. They had purchased experience by their recent incarceration, and had no doubt with them a good store of provisions. When, however, a month had passed, and no boat had been able to come to them, these provisions had dwindled, and the inmates of the lighthouse must have been beginning to tire of their lodging, to yearn for the comfort of the home fireside—especially at the festive season then so near upon them. At last only three days before Christmas, the Plymouth boat came out with relief-men and provisions, and carried back Winstanley and those with him to the shore: ‘We were,’ says the engineer, ‘almost at the last extremity for want of provisions, when, by the providence of God, came two boats’ with supplies, ‘and the family that was to take care of the lights.’ At Plymouth tidings of the appearance of the light had, no doubt, been eagerly sought after, and each incoming vessel questioned on the subject. When the first news reached port we cannot say, but it must have done so early in December, as on the 17th of that month, the Trinity House ordered the following notice to be inserted in _The London Gazette_ and posted at the various ports of the kingdom, in which, as we see, allusion is made to the fact that the light had then been ‘for some time’ kindled: ‘The Masters, wardens, and assistants of Trinity House having at the request of navigation[5], with great difficulty, hazard, and expense erected a light-house upon a dangerous rock called the Eddiston, lying at the mouth of Plimouth Sound, as well for the avoiding the said rock as for the better directing of ships thro’ the channell and in and out of the harbour aforesaid. They doe hereby give notice that the said light hath been kindled for some time; and that being discernible in the night at the distance of some leagues, it gives entire satisfaction to all masters of ships that have come within sight thereof.’ This being so it was expected that vessels would cheerfully pay the dues for its support, sanctioned by the king’s patent.