In one place, where the wall was only seven feet high, Butler and some of his sworn men succeeded in reaching the top; but they were all killed or made prisoners.

At length, after four hundred of the Irish had fallen, their chiefs ordered a retreat to be sounded, [209] Nothing was left but to try the effect of hunger.

It was known that the stock of food in the city was but slender.

Indeed it was thought strange that the supplies should have held out so long.

Every precaution was now taken against the introduction of provisions.