The entire military force of the besieged comprised about thirteen hundred
regular troops, besides two thousand citizens, well armed and drilled, and
under competent captains. There was an abundance of powder, of wine,
biscuit, and other provisions, although of wheat there was but
little.[1278] Meantime assistance was anxiously expected from England, and
the courage of the common people, incited by the exhortations of the
ministers, did not flag, notwithstanding the feebler spirit of the rich
and the actual desertion of a few leaders.[1279]

The besiegers were not idle. Besides occupying positions north, east, and
south of the city, which effectually cut off communication from the land
side, they built forts on opposite sides of the outer harbor, and stranded
at the entrance a large carack, which was made firm in its position with
stones and sand. The work, when provided with guns and troops, commanded
the passage, and was christened "le Fort de l'Aiguille." In vain did the
Rochellois attempt to destroy or capture it; the carack, while it proved
unavailing to prevent the entrance of an occasional vessel laden with
grain or ammunition, remained the most formidable point in the possession
of the enemy.

[Sidenote: Henry, Duke of Anjou, appointed to conduct the siege.]

In order to give her favorite son a new opportunity to acquire military
distinction, the queen mother now persuaded Charles to permit the Duke of
Anjou to conduct the siege. He arrived before La Rochelle about the middle
of February,[1280] with a brilliant train of princes and nobles, among
whom were Alencon, Guise, Aumale, and Montluc, besides Henry of Navarre
and his cousin Conde, who, as they had to sustain the role of good Roman
Catholics, could scarcely avoid taking part in the campaign against their
former brethren. In the ordinances soon after published by Anjou, he seems
to have hoped to weaken the Huguenots by copying their own strictness of
moral discipline. The very Catholic practice of profane swearing, in which
his Majesty was so proficient, was prohibited on pain of severe
punishment; and it was prescribed that a sermon should daily be preached
in the camp.[1281] A good round oath none the less continued to be
received by the soldiers, in all doubtful cases, as a sufficient proof of
loyalty to Mother Church, nor did they cease because of the ordinance from
ridiculing the idea that such good Christians as they needed preaching,
which was well