The court party were galled by the heavy fire of arrows kept up by the apprentices along the side of the moat, and finding all his efforts to regain the earth-work useless, Pembroke withdrew his forces into the castle, and in spite of the efforts of the besiegers managed to close the gates in their faces.

The assailants, however, succeeded in severing the chains of the drawbridge before it could be raised.
From the tower above, the defenders now hurled over great stones, which had been specially placed there for the purpose of destroying the drawbridge should the earthwork be carried.

The boards were soon splintered, and the drawbridge was pronounced by the Earl of Talbot, who was acting as judge, to be destroyed.

The excitement of the spectators was worked up to a great pitch while the conflict was going on, and the citizens cheered lustily at the success of the apprentices.
"That was gallantly done," the king said to Queen Philippa, "and the leader of the assailants is a lad of rare mettle.

Not a captain of my army, no, not Sir Walter Manny himself, could have done it more cleverly.