Norreys took the lower town, inflicted 500 casualties and plundered the wine cellars there, and Drake destroyed thirteen merchant ships in the harbour. For the next two weeks, the wind blew westerly, and while waiting for a change, the English occupied themselves in a siege of Corunna's fortified upper town. They launched three major assaults against the walls of the upper town and tried to breach them with mines, but the vigourous defence by the regular Spanish troops, militia, and women of the city, including Maria Pita and Inés de Ben, forced the English back with severe losses. various boats and more than 1,500 men in the fighting alone, along with 3,000 other personnel in 24 of the transports, including many of the Dutch who found reasons to return to England or put into La Rochelle.(pp. 204–214)