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SIR JOHN FROISSART
Chronicles of England, France, Spain and the adjoining countries
from the latter part of the reign of Edward II to the coronation of Henry IV. Vol.7
page 325
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On the third day after the garrifon were gone away, the commanders of the army ordered an aflault. They had made a large machine, four ftories high, and each ftory would hold twenty croft-bows.
When this machine was completed, which they called a Paffavant, it was moved to what they thought the weakeft place of the walls, and Genoefe croft-bowmen were pofted in it. The crofs-bows began fhooting, but as no one ap-peared on the battlements, they imagined the câftle if as empty, and ceafed to fhoot, for they were unwilling to lofe their bolts and arrows. They left the machine, and furprifed their cap-tains by their fudden return. They faid,—'My lords, the garrifon ' have certainly quitted the caftle, for there is not a man within it.' c How can you know this F replied fir Walter. c We know, that notwithftanding our fhooting, not one fhewed himfelf. ' Ladders were upon this ordered to be affixed to the wails, and lufty var-lets, proper for the bufinefs, to afcend them. Thejr mounted without oppofition, for the caftle was empty, and having pafled the walls and af~ cended into the court, they found near the gate a large bunch of keys, among which was that •f the gate. They, with fome difficulty, opened k and the barriers.
The lords were* much furprifed ; but moreef pecially fir Walter de Paflac, who thought it muft have been by enchantment they had been able thus to efcape, and afked his knights how
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