To tear down those rebel colors and raise those of England in their stead, was all he asked.
"And fear not that task shall be other than thine own, my gallant friend," was Hereford's instant reply, his features kindling at Lancaster's words more than they had done yet; and then again quickly resuming his calm unimpassioned exterior, he inquired if the mangonels and other engines were again fit for use.

There were several that could instantly be put in action was the reply.

Had the numbers of fighting men within the castle been ascertained?
They had, a veteran answered, from a prisoner, who had appeared so willing to give information, that his captors imagined there were very many malcontents within the walls.
Of stalwart fighting men there were scarcely more than three hundred; others there were, of whose number was the prisoner, who fought because their companions' swords would else have been at their throats, but that they would be glad enough to be made prisoners, to escape the horrors of the siege.
"I am sorry for it," was the earl's sole rejoinder, "there will be less glory in the conquest." "And this Sir Nigel Bruce, whoe'er he be, hath to combat against fearful odds," remarked Lancaster; "and these Scotch-men, by my troth, seem touched by the hoof of the arch-deceiver--treachery from the earl to the peasant.

Hast noticed how this scion of the Bruce bears himself ?--right gallantly, 'tis said." "As a very devil, my lord," impetuously answered a knight; "in the walls or out of them, there's no standing before him.

He sweeps down his foes, line after line, as cards blown before the wind; he is at the head of every charge, the last of each retreat.