They had lost Laurence utterly, and for the rest they had not even touched the outer defences of their arch enemy.
Thrice they had tried to enter the castle.

The first time they had taken by force two waggons of fuel from certain men who went towards Machecoul, leaving the woodmen behind in the forest, bound and helpless.

But at the first gate of the outer hall the marshal's guard had stopped them, and demanded that they should wait till the cars were unloaded and brought back to them.

So, having received the money, the Scots returned as they went to the men whom they had left in the forest.
After this repulse they had gone round and round the vast walls of Machecoul seeking a place vulnerable, but finding none.

The ramparts rose as it had been to heaven, and the flanking towers were crowded night and day with men on the watch.