"I did not think of that before." As soon as the heads of the columns approached within a hundred yards, the men with arquebuses opened fire; and those with crossbows speedily followed suit.

Four hundred men with arquebuses at once ran forward, until within a short distance of the moat; and opened so heavy a fire, against the defenders of the wall and house, that these were compelled to stoop down under shelter.

Some of them would have still gone on firing from the windows, but Philip ordered them to draw back.
"It is of no use throwing away life," he said.

"We cannot hope to prevent them planting their faggots, and firing them." He himself went up into a small turret, partly overhanging the wall and, through a loophole, watched the men at work.

The contents of the sacks were emptied out upon the planks, the latter having been first soaked with water, drawn from the moat by a pail one of the men carried.