Note 64 — Chapter II · 1701-1717. MARLBOROUGH’S CAMPAIGNS IN THE WAR OF THE SPANISH SUCCESSION. (continued 2)

Parker, who is corroborated by Stearne, tells a very curious story about the grain rations at Aire. After saying that the enemy had carried away all the wheat before the beginning of the siege, he continues, “but we met with a considerable supply, which I fear will scarce be believed by any but those that saw it. But fact it is, that the soldiers found concealments under ground, which the mice had laid up for their winter store, and that in such abundance, that it was a great relief to us toward the end of the Siege. These hoards were from four to six feet under ground, and in many of them our men found some pecks of corn.”