268 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
especially that adjoining the last-named parish at Elburton, and 
certain portions of Brixton and Shaugh. 
Land such as this must have rendered, as our author says, a rich 
harvest to the king’s followers, and Baldwin’s dependents must 
have suffered severely for their lord’s rebellion. From the effect 
which the fall of Plympton had upon the fortunes of Baldwin, we 
may conclude that the Castle was considered of great importance. 
With the exception of Alured, son of Judhael of Totnes, every 
adherent of Baldwin forsook him, and made peace with the king. 
Alured set out for Exeter, and by a bold stratagem threw himself 
into the castle with a strong body of men. We do not know how 
long the siege actually lasted, but for three months the issue was 
doubtful. The king had spent in the works of attack 15,000 
marks, and in all probability would have been obliged to raise the 
siege, had not the two wells which supplied the defenders with 
water failed. The old chronicler rejects all such ideas as that the 
springs were diverted by the enemy, or had dried up from the 
extraordinary heat of the season, or from accident; but asserts 
that the failure arose from a direct mysterious interposition, as 
immediately after the conclusion of the siege the springs flowed 
abundantly. 
Deprived of water, wine was resorted to by the now hard-pressed 
garrison, but being obliged to use it not only for drink, but in 
making their bread and cooking their food, and also to extinguish 
the fiery missiles which were thrown into the castle by the king’s 
troops, the cellars were soon emptied. It was resolved to treat for 
the surrender, and, aided by friends in the camp of the king, 
Baldwin sought to make his peace, but the emaciated appearance 
of the earl’s messengers clearly showed the king and his councillors 
that in a short time the haughty earl must surrender at discretion, 
and by the advice of his brother, the Bishop of Winchester, 
Stephen drove the envoys from his presence without even hearing 
what they had to propose. 
Baldwin’s wife, the Lady Adelicia, then ventured to approach 
the king, and to beseech his clemency for her lord and his men. 
With ashes on her head, and barefooted, she sought the king’s 
presence, and in an agony of grief supplicated his pardon. Stephen 
received her graciously, patiently listened to her entreaties, but 
refused her prayer. The defenders of the castle were now reduced 
to the direst extremity ; but although starvation was inevitable if 
