[91] Cotivy,—Coitiny.—Du Cange.
[92] Cheurin. Q. Ennery?
[93] Mantes,—capital of the Mantois, on the Seine, 19 leagues from Rouen.
CHAP. LI.
THE DUKE OF YORK, GOVERNOR OF NORMANDY FOR THE KING OF ENGLAND MARCHES AN ARMY TO PONTOISE, TO FORCE THE KING OF FRANCE TO RAISE THE SIEGE.
The duke of York, commander in chief and lieutenant-general for king Henry in the marches of France and Normandy, had assembled from six to seven thousand combatants,—among whom were the lord Scales, the lord Talbot, sir Richard Woodville, who had married the duchess of Bedford, sister to Louis de Luxembourg count of St Pol, and many other captains, then at Rouen, but whose names I have not been told. There were likewise collected a large train of carts and horses, laden with artillery and provision, together with a great number of live cattle.
The duke of York began his march about the middle of July, and in a few days, came near to Pontoise, the lord Talbot commanding the vanguard of three thousand men. The duke fixed his quarters at Cheuery[94], half a league from Pontoise; and the van were lodged at Hetonville[95] where they remained for three days and reinforced and revictualled Pontoise most abundantly.
When this was done, the duke sent to tell the king, that he was come to offer him and his army combat, if he would give him an opportunity. But the king was not inclined to comply; for his council had repeated the advice they had given on other occasions, that he would act imprudently to risk his army and person against men of such low degree,—adding, that the battles that had formerly taken place with the English during his reign had cost him too dearly, and that it was more advisable to let them for this time run their career and guard the fords of the river, for that the English could not long remain where they were without danger from want of provisions for so large a force.
This resolution was adopted,—and many captains, with their men, were detached along the river Oise, even farther than Beaumont[96] and the king and the rest of his army remained in their quarters.