He summoned his most trusty captains, and those who had attended the late embassy to Pontoise, and declared to them his intentions: they replied, that in whatever he should be pleased to command them, they would exert themselves to the utmost, without regarding their lives or fortunes, or the difficulties and hardships they might have to encounter. The king then nominated those who were to be of the expedition against Pontoise. They arrived on the last day of July, between day-break and sun-rise, at one of the gates of Pontoise, and might be about three thousand combatants. The gate was not open, and some of them scaled the walls by means of ladders, without alarming the guard, and instantly opened the gate, so that their whole army entered, shouting 'Saint George!' 'The town is taken!' At this cry, there was a general alarm, and the lord de l'Isle-Adam awakened, who, without delay, armed himself, mounted his horse, and, with some of his men, hastened to where the shoutings came from; but when he saw the English so numerous within the place, he speedily returned to his quarters to pack up his effects and money, and, with many of the principal inhabitants, went to the gate leading to Paris, which was still closed,--but he had it forced open, and, with about ten thousand of the townsmen, in despair and affliction, took the road toward Paris. Several of them carried away their most precious articles, such as plate and jewels, and, having separated from the others to go toward Beauvais, were robbed of their effects by Jean de Guigny and Jean du Clau. The English, meeting with no resistance, treated the place as a conquered town, and did innumerable mischiefs: they gained great riches, for the town was full of wealth. The principal commander of this expedition was the captal de Buch, brother to the count de Foix. The whole country of France, more particularly those parts nearer to Paris were infinitely alarmed at this conquest; and the inhabitants within the Isle de France began to quit their dwellings in all haste. When the news of it was brought to St Denis, where the king of France and the duke of Burgundy held their court, they instantly departed, and, by way of Provins, hastened to Troyes in Champagne, accompanied by the queen, the lady Catherine, and many others of the nobility. They left in Paris, for its government, the count de St Pol, master Eustace de Lactre chancellor, and the lord de l'Isle-Adam marshal of France. This last, so soon as he could assemble a sufficient body of men at arms, posted himself with them in garrison at Beauvais, to oppose the English in that quarter, where they were daily making inroads. The lord de l'Isle-Adam was, however, greatly blamed for having kept so negligent a guard at Pontoise; and the ministers of the dauphin were particularly dissatisfied with him. CHAP. XXIV.