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In this extract, Tighe
and Davis describe the siege of Windsor Castle in the summer
of 1216. This came about as a result of King John's perceived
violation of the provisions of Magna Carta.
The besiegers, having arranged their
engines, made a fierce assault on the walls. The castle was stoutly
defended, and the barons gained little or no advantage.
"They were long there, but did little, and were
in great jeopardy. The besieged made many fierce sallies, twice
cutting the beam of their perriere (the name given to the engine
for throwing large stones, the greater part of which consisted
of a long beam). A knight of Artois, called William de Ceris,
was killed, lamented by few, for he was hated much."
In the meantime, the king, finding his enemies occupied
with the sieges of the two castles of Windsor and Dover, availed
himself of the opportunity to pillage and lay waste the estates
of the barons. He was at Reading on the 7th of September, and
came so near Windsor that the besiegers expected a battle. The
Welshmen, approaching by night, shot at them with their arrows.
The besiegers remained armed a long time, prepared for the fight,
but none occurred, the king withdrawing.
After remaining a week at Sonning, he proceeded to
Wallingford and Cambridge. The barons, hearing of the king's
movements, and not making any progress at Windsor, determined,
under the advice of the Count de Nevers, to raise the siege,
and cut off the king's retreat. They left their tents at night,
and marched with all haste towards Cambridge. The king, being
apprized of their movements, moved to Stamford and Lincoln.
It was rumoured that the Count de Nevers had been
bribed by presents from John to raise the siege of Windsor. Be
that as it may, the barons did not return to the siege, but finding
the king had escaped them, returned to London, and then joined
Louis at Dover.
Windsor consequently remained in the hands of the
king's friends. |
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