Thus the body presented the appearance of a great scale-covered animal.

In many respects, indeed, the warfare of those days was changed in no way from that of the time of the Romans.

In the twelve hundred years which had elapsed between the siege of Jerusalem and the days of the Crusades there had been but little change in arms or armor, and the operations which Titus undertook for the reduction of the Jewish stronghold differed but little from those which a Norman baron employed in besieging his neighbor's castle.
Within Evesham Castle all was contentment and merriment during these days.

The garrison had no fear whatever of being unable to repel the assault when it should be delivered.

Huge stones had been collected in numbers on the walls, caldrons of pitch, beneath which fires kept simmering, stood there in readiness.