Death would have been a thousand times preferable to falling into the hands of these wretches." "How long have you been beleaguered, madam ?" "My men have been fighting for four hours.

For upwards of three hours they did well, for the peasants, being unable to use their weapons, frequently drew back.

Then they hit upon the device of fastening a hook to the end of a pole, and, catching this round the leg of one of the defenders, dragged him down, and then despatched him with their knives.
One by one four of my men were killed.

For the last half hour the two who remained stood back, one at each side of the doorway, so that they could not be so entrapped, and slew those who, mounting the stairs, tried to rush past them.

Both were sorely spent, and the end must have come soon had you not appeared.