ording little protection to the
faces of the walls; however, the extent of the defences was small, and
Walter felt confident that with the force at his command he could resist
any sudden attack, unless made in overwhelming force, so that all the
faces of the wall could be assaulted at the same time. He had a large
number of great stones brought in to pile against the gate, while others
were brought into the central keep, similarly to defend the door should
the outer wall be carried. He appointed Ralph as his lieutenant, and
every day, leaving him in charge of the castle, rode through the country
for many miles round, with twenty men-at-arms, to convince himself
that no considerable force of the enemy were approaching. These
reconnaissances were not without some danger and excitement, for several
times bodies of the country people, armed with scythes, axes, and
staves, tried to intercept them on their return to the castle, and
once or twice Walter and his men had to fight their way through their
opponents. Contrary to the custom of the times, Walter gave orders to
his men not to slay any when resistance had ceased.

"They are but doing what we ourselves should do did French garrisons
hold our castles at home, and I deem them in no way to be blamed for the
efforts which they make to slay us. In self-defence, of course, we must
do our best, and must kill in order that we may not ourselves be slain;
but when they are once routed, let them go to their homes. Poor people,
the miseries which this war has brought upon them are great, and there
is no wonder that they hate us."

This leniency on Walter's part was not without good effect. When the
country people found that the garrison of the castle of Pres did not
carry fire and sword through the villages around, that they took only
sufficient for their needs, and behaved with courtesy to all, their
animosity to a great extent subsided. No longer did the women and
children of the little villages fly to the woods when they saw the gleam
of Walter's approaching spears, but remained at their avocations,
and answered willingly enough the questions which he asked them as to
whether they had heard aught of the movements of French troops. So far
as possible, Walter refrained from seizing the cattle or stores of grain
of the poorer classes, taking such as he needed from the lands of the
wealthy proprietors, all of whom had left the country, and were either
with the French army or sh