Tudor Jenks

“ While the Count's forces occupied the attention of the garrison by a feigned attack, sending flights of arrows against all exposed points, Luke was seeing to the raising of the great mast. This was set up near the southeastern tower, being put into a deep hole dug into the ground, and then made firm by poles driven in to wedge it tight. The beam having been already put over the spike upon the top of the mast it required the combined strength of many men to raise the mast and drop its end into the hole ”

“ Since all directions had been given in the castle for the placing of the garrison, they were at their posts promptly when the signals of the expected attack were given. Hugh, in order to put the men in better spirits, had told them of the failure of Luke's stratagem, and the garrison took their places upon the walls and at the loopholes, determined to show that the Count could not only be outwitted in the tricks of warfare, but could be met and overcome in the clash of arms. ”

“ The fall of the southeastern tower left only the keep and the tower at the northwestern angle in possession of the defenders, and the ease with which they had taken the first small tower now urged them to an attack upon the last, hoping to confine the survivors of the garrison—now reduced to about fifty men—to the keep alone. ”

“ Except for a rather feeble fire by the archers—a dozen or so—who could find places behind the loopholes in the tower, no resistance was made by the garrison, and in a very short time, the great beam was knocking for admittance against the door. Below this portion of the rampart was the Friar's second mine, and he himself stood within the tower ready to give the signal for firing it. But first he made sure that all the defenders in the tower should be warned to take flight as soon as the whistle sounded. ”

“ When at last the line was near enough to be made out, it was found that the attack was directed principally against the southeastern tower. Luke had advised the Count to delay the final attack upon the keep until he had reduced the smaller towers remaining. When it was certain that this was the besiegers' object, Hugh sent all the men he could spare—some thirty archers and men armed with spears, or long poleaxes—into the threatened tower. ”