The Siege of Berwick

About the show

At the start of the play, Seaton is refusing to surrender the fortified town to the English besiegers. His sons make a sally against them, but are captured. The enemy commander then sends them to Seaton with a message that if he does not yield, one of them will be chained to a pillar and exposed to the arrows shot from the walls. Both of them, however, resolve to return to the enemy camp together. Ethelberta then goes to the English commander, accompanied by Anselm, and makes an unsuccessful plea that her sons should be spared. During the subsequent attack on the town walls, the invaders are driven back and Seaton kills their commander. Afterwards the sons are rescued by Donaldson unharmed.