n avait trois enceintes. // hère refers to the castle

8. de créneaux et de mâchicoulis, 'battlements and machicolations.' The latter were the overhanging galleries at the top of the wall, with openings for pouring hot oil, pitch, molten lead, &c, on assailants at the foot of the wall.

9. douTe. Thîs means the wall of a canal or ditch, but seems hère to be used for the ditch itself.

10. le donjon, 'the keep.' This was the central stronghold of a mediaeval castle, and was generally a large tower, round or polygonal, which could hold ont when the rest of the castle was taken.

encore défendu, ' additionally protected.'

11. une lierse toujours levée, always drawn up ready to be let down in case of emergency.

14. corps de logis, 'principal building,' as distinguished from out-buildings, &c.

15. des souterrains, thèse underground passages often existed in old castles, and were still more often believed to exist.

33. cour d'honneur. The chief court was so called to distinguish it from the basse cour^ where stables, poultry-yard, &c. were placed.

33. écuyers. A squire was a yoimg man of gentle birth, in attendance on a knight, and being trained to become a knight himsel£

paires. A page was younger than a squire, and was also supposed to attend on a knight and be trained to become a squire.

s'exerçaient à l'escrime, 'were practising fencing.' The datvve is used oi occupation»

24. On lui lit ensuite traverser, ' he was then taken through.'