22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 34.] It became evident to Lord Scales, William Pole, and Sir John Talbot, who since Salisbury's[542] death had been conducting the siege, that months and months must elapse ere the investment could be completed and the city surrounded by a ring of forts connected by a moat.
Meanwhile the miserable _Godons_, up to the ears in mud and snow, were freezing in their wretched hovels,--mere shelters of wood and earth.
If things went on thus they were in danger of being worse off and more starved than the besieged.

Therefore, following the example of the late Earl, from time to time they tried to bring matters to a crisis; without great hope of success they endeavoured to take the town by assault.[543] [Footnote 542: Boucher de Molandon and A.de Beaucorps, _L'armee anglaise vaincue par Jeanne d'Arc_, pp.

3 _et seq._ Jarry, _Le compte de l'armee anglaise_, proofs and illustrations v, p.

233.] [Footnote 543: Jan.

1, 2.