The count d'Eu had intelligence while at St Aubin, that the English had taken master John de la Motte, whom he had sent to inform the garrison of Harfleur of the relief he was bringing them; and this very day, the English sent pursuivants to say, that they would advance to combat the French before they proceeded further,--which, however, they did not do. On this account, the French advanced their whole force to Fauville en Caux[66], two leagues nearer their adversaries. On the morrow, at day-break, they marched to Montivilliers[67], which was under their obedience, and there learnt for certain that the English had not broken up their siege. This day the count d'Eu went to reconnoitre the enemy, escorted by about one hundred chosen horsemen mounted on the flower of their cavalry, when some sharp skirmishing took place between them and a party of English. On his return, he called a council of his ablest captains, to consider how they should act,--and they lamented the loss of the lord de Gaucourt, who, from his great experience in such matters, would have ably advised them. It was resolved in this council, that the count should embark with a certain number of combatants, and attack the enemy on the side of Caux; that the bastard of Orleans should do so, with another detachment, on the opposite side; and that the Picards should advance on foot, with pontoons to throw over the ditches which the english had made round their camp; and that all these operations should commence as nearly as possible at the same instant of time. La Hire and the rest of the captains were to remain on horseback with their men, ready to succour those that might stand in need of support. When these orders had been given, every one made his preparations for executing them on the ensuing day. The attack first commenced on the quarters of the lord Talbot, and was very sharp, lasting for more than half an hour; but the assailants, though they fought valiantly, made little impression, from the superior resistance of the English, and because their pontoons were too short for them to cross the ditches. On the other hand, the enemy was advantageously posted,--and their archers, who were very numerous, shot so well and briskly that they wounded and killed great numbers with their arrows. Among the slain were two valiant knights, sir John de Chailly, lord of Chambois, and sir Harpin de Richames, governor of Rue[68], and a few more. At this attack, some new french knights were made,--such as John d'Ailly, Guillaume le Jeune, and others. While this was going forward, the English to the amount of five hundred, charged the infantry, but were soon repulsed by the cavalry, with the loss of forty or fifty slain. The garrison now made a sally on the guard before the gate, and killed about thirty.