text:  These repeated reinforcements joined to the knowledge that the Pope was exerting himself to unite all the princes of Christendom in a league for the relief of their hardly-beset brethren still encouraged the heroic defenders of Candia though the Turks had by this time carried their mines at several points within the bastions and exterior defences and compelled the garrison to shelter themselves behind an inner rampart constructed during the winter in anticipation of this extremity:--"So that in effect " says Rycaut "this most impregnable fort of the world was forced and taken by the spade and shovel and by a crew of unarmed labourers who understood nothing more than the plough and harrow