The duke of York continued his march to Maubuisson, but arrived after the king's departure. He found great abundance of provision and other things, which the merchants had not had time to remove. The duke fixed his quarters there, and lord Talbot at a town a league distant, on the Oise, between the towns of Pontoise and Conflans. They remained there for three days, and went into Pontoise by the bridge which the garrison had repaired, as well as the bulwark that had been abandoned, without any opposition whatever from the French; and those of the town went in and out at their pleasure, without hinderance.
The French in the blockhouse were every day expecting and hoping for an attack, as they were determined to defend themselves well; but the English had no thoughts of risking the attempt, considering that their affairs were growing worse, and that they could not foresee the end of them. The enemy, however, threatened to attack them, but offered to let them march away in safety, with part of their baggage,—which, like men of sense, they ought gladly to have accepted of, since their king had abandoned them in such danger. But they had no such inclination, and replied, that they would not accept of terms, as they were not afraid of their attempts. While this kind of parley was going forward, several skirmishes took place, but more between the archers than with any others.
On the fourth day, the duke of York dislodged from Maubuisson, and marched to the quarters of Talbot, who had made a bridge over the Oise with cords and hurdles, on which full fifty cars and carts crossed that river. On this same day, Poton de Saintrailles had left Poissy, accompanied by a numerous escort, with provisions to revictual the blockhouse of St Martin. He was followed by the constable, the count de St Pol, and other captains, to support him, should there be occasion. Having learnt that the English had recrossed the river, they sent orders to Poton to hasten his return,—but he sent back the messenger, to tell them to cross the river at Meulan, and return to Poissy on the other side, which they did.
The duke of York, having recrossed the Oise, advanced his whole army in battle-array before Poissy, wherein were the king of France, the dauphin, and the greater part of his nobles and captains. A very great skirmish took place, in which two of the archers of the constable, and one belonging to the count de St Pol, were made prisoners.
The duke thence marched to Tourtie sur Seine, and on the morrow returned to Mantes,—and the king went to Poissy and Conflans with a part of his army. The constable, the count de St Pol, and others, passed through St Cloud to Paris, where they staid two days, and then retired with their men at arms into the isle of France, where different towns were delivered up to them for the quarters of their men, each according to his rank.
The king afterwards went, with his attendant lords, to St Denis, and remained there until the middle of August, when he returned to Conflans, and caused a bridge to be constructed over the Seine to an island in that river, and another bridge thence to the main land, with a strong blockhouse, and ditches round at that end, wherein he posted a body of troops. In the mean while, lord Talbot plundered the convent of Poissy, and carried away the effects of the nuns to Mantes.
Shortly after, the town of Pontoise was again revictualled, for the fourth time; and the men of the duke of York remained there in the room of the lord Talbot's, which vexed the king greatly,—for he saw but little hope of his accomplishing his enterprise. He thought, however, that should he depart without having gained Pontoise, after lying before it so long, and at such a prodigious expense, he would be disgraced, and the people would cry out against him and his ministers, more especially the Parisians, who had advanced large sums of money for this purpose.
He was likewise informed that the nobles of his realm, and even the princes of his blood, were much dissatisfied with his government, and that there was to be a meeting of them, which could not be meant for his welfare: he had, therefore, enough to think on. Nevertheless, he determined, with his most faithful advisers, to return to Maubuisson and prosecute the siege, which he did on the twelfth day from the time he had quitted it, and quartered his troops in their former situations.
Soon after his return, a grand skirmish took place with the constable's division, between Maubuisson and Pontoise, in which Claude de Hangest, lord of Ardilliers, was killed by a cannon-shot. Various and frequent skirmishes passed between the French and English,—but it would be tiresome to enter into a detail of each: in one of them, the lord Charles d'Anjou was wounded by an arrow. Very little worth noticing took place in the main business of the siege.
The count de St Pol's men having been much harrassed, and having expended large sums of money, were desirous of returning home, and entreated of him permission so to do: upon this, he took leave of the king and the dauphin, who, on his going away, made him handsome presents, and returned him their thanks for the services he had done them.