The earl [of Pembroke] and few knights were fortunate enough to escape, and sheltered themselves in an old house which belonged to the knights templars. The house was embattled, without a moat, and only enclosed with a stone wall; nevertheless they set up a brave defence.
The French tried by scaling ladders, and every means they could devise, to gain an entrance, but without effect; night overtook them, and they desisted, saying they had done enough for one day, and would return to attack to-morrow.
As soon as it was dark the Earl of Pembroke sent off one of his party to inform Sir John Chandos of the danger they were in, and beg his immediate assistance. The messenger took, as he thought, the direct road for Poitiers; but it so fell out that he wandered about the whole night until it was broad day, before he hit upon the right course. At sunrise the French prepared to renew the attack; however, the earl and his brave companions, instead of sleeping, had employed their time in fortifying the place with whatever they could lay hands upon, so that they were in a state to resist, which they did most manfully and to the great indignation of the besiegers. It was now evening, and the French finding the place still hold out, sent orders to all the villagers round about to bring pickaxes and mattocks, in order to undermine the walls. The English were more afraid of this than anything, and the earl determined to dis-
Patch another messenger to Sir John; and addressing the squire who had undertaken the commission, he said, “Tell Sir John our condition, and recommend me to him by this token.” He then took off his finger a rich gold ring, adding, “Give him this from me, he will know it well again.”
[The English are finally rescued.]
Source: Jean Froissart. The Chronicles of England, France, and Spain. Pp. 123-24.
DOCUMENT 55 City Walls
I [Anna] must describe in a few words the appearance of the city of Dyrrachium. The walls were flanked by towers standing up above it all around and rising as high as eleven feet, which were ascended by a spiral stair and strengthened by battlements. Such was the appearance and defence of the city. The thickness of the walls was remarkable, in fact so great was its width that more than four horseman could ride abreast on it quite safely.
Source: Anna Comnena. The Alexiad. Bk. XIII, p. 330.
DOCUMENT 56 The Destruction of Limerick
[Raymond] voluntarily gave it [the city of Limerick] in charge to Du-venald prince of Thomond, as baron of the lord and king of England, on his taking a solemn oath to preserve the place in good condition, restore it to the king when required, and keep the peace, for which he gave fresh hostages, and renewed in various forms the solemn oaths he had before sworn.
Scarcely, however, had the garrison been withdrawn and passed the further end of the bridge, when it was broken down behind them, and they beheld with grief that noble city, so well fortified, containing such fair buildings, and stored with all manner of provisions collected from all quarters, given to the flames, fire being set to it in four places. It was the work of the traitorous Duvenald, who thus openly showed by his new
And disgraceful perfidy, what little reliance could be placed on the Irish faith.
Source: Giraldus Cambrensis. The Conquest of Ireland. Ch. XIV, pp. 272-73. Life in the Town and Countryside
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