The French bowmen opened a heavy fire upon the walls, which was answered by the shafts of the little party of English bowmen.

These did much execution, for the English archers shot far harder and straighter than those of France, and it was only the best armour which could keep out their cloth-yard shafts.

So small a body, however, could not check the advance of so large a force, and the French swarmed up to the very foot of the walls.
"Well done, my men!" the countess exclaimed, clapping her hands, as a shower of heavy rocks fell among the mass of the assailants, who were striving to plant their ladders, crushing many in their fall; "but you are not looking, Master Somers.

What is it that you see in yonder camp to withdraw your attention from such a fight ?" "I am thinking, Countess, that the French have left their camp altogether unguarded, and that if a body of horse could make a circuit and fall upon it, the camp, with all its stores, might be destroyed before they could get back to save it." "You are right, young sir," the countess exclaimed, "and it shall be done forthwith." So saying, she descended the stairs rapidly and mounted her horse, which stood at the foot of the tower; then riding through the town, she collected a party of about three hundred men, bidding all she met mount their horses and join her at the gate on the opposite side to that on which the assault was taking place.

Such as had no horses she ordered to take them from those in her own stables.