Sentence:  “Nay, for matter o' that, he never doth any mischief,” said the woman; “but to be sure it is necessary he should keep some arms for his own safety; for his house hath been <WSD>beset</WSD> more than once; and it is not many nights ago that we thought we heard thieves about it ... 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To attack or assail, especially from all sides.