The cross-bow men among the mercenaries kept up a fire upon the walls to hinder the defenders from interfering with the operations, while the archers above shot steadily, and killed many of those who ventured within range of their bows.
After ten days' labour, a portion of the moat some twenty yards in length was filled with bags of earth, and all was ready for the assault.
The besiegers had prepared great numbers of strong ladders, and these were brought up under shelter of the screens.

Then, all being ready, the trumpets sounded for the assault, and the troops moved forward in a close body, covering themselves with their shields so that no man's head or body was visible, each protecting the one before him with his shield held over him.

Thus the body presented the appearance of a great scale-covered animal.

In many respects, indeed, the warfare of those days was changed in no way from that of the time of the Romans.

In the 1200 years which had elapsed between the siege of Jerusalem and the days of the crusades there had been but little change in arms or armour, and the operations which Titus undertook for the reduction of the Jewish stronghold differed but little from those which a Norman baron employed in besieging his neighbour's castle.
Within Evesham Castle all was contentment and merriment during these days.