about six in the morning
In years that were gone , the Swedes themselves used to sing like that as they marched to battle , and now they stood and joined in spirit in the service that Dr. Bartholomew Sperling was holding with the defenders of the threatened breach . But when the prayer was ended , the furies of war raised their blood-red banners again , in mournful contrast to the scene that had just taken place , and the dreadful game that is played with human lives for the stakes began once more . The whole night through did the firing continue . Early on February 4 , 1643 , at about six in the morning , the Swedes exploded two mines , one of which laid open the barbican , while the other hurled pieces of woodwork far over the roofs of the houses , shattering the gallery within the barbican , and destroying those who were defending it . In the confusion that arose , the Swedes , a reserve of whom had been held in readiness , immediately seized the barbican , mounted from it to the gate-tower , which was now commanded by their artillery , and placed sharp-shooters in it , who at once opened a galling fire with double arquebuses , hand-grenades , and stones on the occupants of the nearest posts held by the defenders . By way of covering themselves from this fire , the besieged at once constructed a new battery on the upper cistern in the Peter Street . From this they were soon able to open fire upon the new Swedish breastwork on the tower at the Peter Gate , the result being the enemy 's speedy and enforced retirement into one of the lower and less exposed rooms of the gate-tower .