The governor for the king of France was John d'Estouteville, having with him his brother Robert and others, to the amount of four hundred fighting men, who, with the townsmen and sailors, made every preparation to receive their adversaries with courage. They strengthened every weak part of the fortifications, and made some sallies, in which they took prisoners, or slew several of their adversaries. The besiegers on their side, were not idle in securing their camp with deep ditches all round, and with strong hedges, to prevent any surprise, leaving, at proper intervals, openings for their own convenience to sally forth. They pointed bombards, and other destructive engines, against the gates of Harfleur, which harrassed the town much, and for so long a time that the inhabitants suffered greatly. They were also oppressed by a famine, caused from a want of all necessaries. They sent several messengers to king Charles to state their situation and solicit succour, which he promised to send: but, from the many weighty affairs on his hands, he was unable to do it so soon as they required. However, at the end of about four months that this siege had lasted, and when the countess of Somerset and other ladies and damsels were come thither to see the conclusion of it, the count d'Eu was ordered to march, with the promised succour, to the relief of the town. He had with him the count de Dunois bastard of Orleans, the bastard de Bourbon, the lord de Gaucourt, La Hire, sir Giles de St Simon, the lord de Penerach, Pierre de Broussac, and other experienced captains, with about four thousand combatants. John d'Estouteville had in the town about four hundred fighting men, whose captains were John de Bressay, sir James de Hincourt, Hector de Fol, Guillot de Las and John Gentil. The succours sent him were all picked men: they marched through the country near Paris, then suddenly turned toward Amiens and Corbie, where they crossed the river Somme, and thence through Ponthieu, came to Abbeville, where they held a council on their future proceedings. As they marched through Picardy, they were joined by all the vassals of the lords d'Auxi and de Humieres, John d'Ailly lord of Araines, Guillaume le Jeune lord of Cousay[61], and many other gentlemen. When they had fully deliberated in a general council how they should act, they caused thirty carts to be laden with artillery, provision and warlike stores, and then left Abbeville in handsome array, and marched to Eu[62]. The bastard of Bourbon and La Hire commanded the vanguard. From Eu they marched to quarter the greater part of their force at Le Bourg-d'Un[63],--and the count was lodged at St Aubin en Caux[64]; but this same day, about vespers, the lord de Gaucourt, having remained behind, was made prisoner by about eighteen English, who had watched his steps, and carried him off to the castle of Neufchâtel[65] de Hincourt He afterwards regained his liberty, on paying a large sum of money for his ransom.