“No matter,” said Albini, “thou hast more honourable work before thee: for see, they prepare for a new assault--the ladders are out--to thy post, and I to mine. The event is with God, not with King John!” “Maybe so,” said the staunch bowman, “maybe so, but with King John I wot is neither sickness nor starvation, His host, I warrant me, have all breakfasted this morning, while some that I could name have been three days under arms with little better cheer than the castle well.” “Too true,” said Albini, “too true. We must all fast as well as fight; but to-night, please God, even to-night, the barons may arrive, the siege may be raised, and thou and thy brave companions shall sup in the king’s larder. What say’st thou to that, Hugo?” “My appetite is right keen, seigneur, and my thirst not a whit behind my appetite.” “Well then, courage! and see what God will send us.” “Amen!” said the bowman, “and never fear me for courage when Albini commands. And yet, seigneur, had this little bolt been sent home, much blood, methinks, would have been spared. But no matter now, the die is cast; and if once caught by the tyrant, yonder stands the gibbet! So once more, here goes.” “Ay, by my troth, and a right good aim,” said Albini; “thou hast hit the first man between the joints of his harness--he tumbles dead from the ladder. This is the right game, so once more, God and freedom be the word!” “God and freedom!” responded the bowman; and herewith the closing horrors of the siege began. The aid sent to the barons by the French court in this struggle is stated at nearly seven thousand men. “Heere is to be noted,” says Holinshed, “that during the siege of Rochester, as some write, there came out of France to the number neere hand of seaven thousand men, sent from the French king vnto the aid of the barons, at the suit of Saer de Quincie Earle of Winchester, and other ambassadours that were sent from the barons, during the time of this siege; although it should seeme, by Matthew Paris, that the said earle was not sent till after the Pope had excommunicated the barons. The Frenchmen that came over at this first time landed at Orwell, and other hauens there neere adioining[121].”