show, and will
delight both the citizens and the ladies of the court, for such a thing
has never before been attempted. But the king grudges not the expense
which it will cost him, seeing that spectacles of this kind do much to
arouse the warlike spirit of the people. Here is a list of the various
implements which will be provided, only it is understood that the
mangonels and arblasts will not be provided with missiles, seeing that
many would assuredly be killed by them. They will be employed, however,
to show the nature of the work, and parties of men-at-arms will be told
off to serve them. Crossbows and arrows will be used, but the weapons
will be blunted. You will see that there are ladders, planks for making
bridges, long hooks for hauling men down from the wall, beams for
battering down the gate, axes for cutting down the palisades, and all
other weapons. The ten who will serve under you as knights have already
been nominated, and the city will furnish them with full armour. For
the others, the apprentices of each ward will choose sufficient
representatives to make up the hundred, who will fight as men-at-arms;
these will wear steel caps and breastpieces, with leather jerkins,
and vizors to protect their faces, for even a blunted arrow or wooden
quarrel might well kill if it struck true."

On leaving the marshal Walter joined Giles Fletcher and Geoffrey Ward,
who warmly congratulated him upon his success. He informed them of the
spectacle which the king had prepared for the amusement of the citizens
on the morrow.

"In faith," Geoffrey said, "the idea is a good one, and promises rare
sport, but it will be rough, and we may expect many broken limbs, for it
be no joke to be thrown down with a ladder from a wall even twelve feet
high, and there will be the depth of the moat besides."

"That will only be two feet," Walter said, "for so it is marked on the
plan."

"And which do you mean to take, Walter, the attack or the defence?
Methinks the king has erred somewhat in making the forces equal, for
assuredly the besiegers should outnumber the besieged by fully three to
one to give them a fair chance of success."

"I shall take the assault," Walter answered; "there is more to be done
that way than in the defence. When we get home, Geoffrey, we will look
at the plans, and see what may be the best manner of assault."

Upon examining the plan that evening they found that the wall was
continued at an angle at either e