They formed a strong fortified camp near the church of St.Germain, and then spread over the country slaying and burning, sparing none, man, woman, or child.

From the walls of Paris the smoke could be seen rising over the whole country, and every heart was moved with rage and sorrow.
Edmund and his party had taken no part in the defence of the tower.

Its loss would not have involved that of the town, and Eudes requested him to keep his band in reserve in order that they might remain intact until the Danes should make a breach in the walls of the city itself, when the sudden reinforcement of a party of such well-trained warriors might decide the result.
While a portion of the Danish host were engaged upon the work of devastation, a large number were employed upon the construction of three great towers.

These were built on wheels, and were each large enough to hold sixty men.

They far overtopped the walls, and the citizens viewed with alarm the time when an assault should be delivered under the protection of these formidable machines.