e
England credit for energy, and would not run the risk of a blockade.
To reduce the extent of his lines, Grey abandoned the town, burnt the
houses, and withdrew into the castle. The French made their approaches
in form. On the morning of Monday the 17th they opened fire from two
heavily armed batteries, and by the middle of the day they had
silenced the English guns, and made a breach which they thought
practicable. A storming party ventured an attempt: after sharp
fighting the advanced columns had to retreat; but as they drew back
the batteries re-opened, and so effectively, that the coming on of
night alone saved the English from being driven at once, and on the
spot, from their defences. The walls were of the old {p.304} sort,
constructed when the art of gunnery was in its infancy, and brick and
stone crumbled to ruins before the heavy cannon which had come lately
into use.

Under shelter of the darkness earthworks were thrown up, which proved
a better protection; but the French on their side planted other
batteries, and all Tuesday and Wednesday the terrible bombardment was
continued. The old walls were swept away; the ditch was choked with
the rubbish, and was but a foot in depth; the French trenches had been
advanced close to its edge, and on Wednesday afternoon (January 19),
twelve companies of Gascons and Swiss again dashed at the breaches.
The Gascons were the first; the Swiss followed "with a stately
leisure;" and a hand-to-hand fight began all along the English works.
The guns from a single tower which had been left standing causing loss
to the assailants, it was destroyed by the batteries. The fight
continued till night, when darkness as before put an end to it.

The earthworks could be again repaired, but the powder began to fail,
and this loss was irreparable. Lord Grey, going his rounds in the
dark, trod upon a sword point, and was wounded in the foot. The
daylight brought the enemy again, who now succeeded in making
themselves masters of the outer line of defence. Grey, crippled as he
was, when he saw his men give way, sprung to the top of the rampart,
"wishing God that some shot would take him." A soldier caught him by
the scarf and pulled him down, and all that was left of the garrison
fell back, carrying their commander with them into the keep. The gate
was rammed close, but Guise could now finish his work at his leisure,
and had the English at his mercy. He sent a trumpeter in the evening
to prop