[1] In the meane time the earle of Winchester and the other barons, finding their enimies departed and the siege raised, determined foorthwith to go vnto Lincolne, where Gilbert de Gaunt and other had kept siege a long time before the castell, but yet in vaine. Bernewell. For there was a noble ladie within that ca|stell named Nichola, who demeaned hir selfe so vali|antlie in resisting all assaults and enterprises, which the enimies that besieged hir could attempt by anie meanes against hir, that they rather lost than wan honour and estimation at hir hands dailie. Therefore Robert Fitzwater and the other leaders of this ar|mie, to the end they might get that castell out of hir and other their enimies hands, tooke their iour|nie forward, and passing through the vale of Beau|uere, all things there that came to sight fell into the hands of the greedie souldiers. For the French foot|men, which were as it had béene the scum & reffuse of their countrie, least nothing vntouched that they might lay hands vpon, not sparing church or church|yard, nor hallowed place more than common or pro|phane. For they were so poore and ragged,The poore estate of the French sol|diers. that they had scarse anie tatters to couer their priuie parts withall. Finallie comming vnto Lincolne, they as|saulted the castell with all maner of engins, and as|saied by all waies possible whereby they hoped to ad|uance their purpose.