One of the breaches was eighty feet wide, the other half as large, but the besieged had stuffed them full of beds, tubs, logs of wood, boards, and "such like trash," by means whereof the ascent was not so easy as it seemed.

The soldiers were excessively eager for the assault.

Sir John Norris came to Leicester to receive his orders as to the command of the attacking party.
The Earl referred the matter to him.

"There is no man," answered Sir John, "fitter for that purpose than myself; for I am colonel-general of the infantry." But Leicester, not willing to indulge so unreasonable a proposal, replied that he would reserve him for service of less hazard and greater importance.

Norris being, as usual, "satis prodigus magnae animae," was out of humour at the refusal, and ascribed it to the Earl's persistent hostility to him and his family.