The miller was on guard this night, and dismissed the watch sooner than usual because it was Sunday, that they might attend mass and then breakfast. The French, by the aid of the miller, fixed their ladders to his mill, and, by this means, entered the town without any one knowing, or even suspecting it. Six score English were in garrison, some of whom were killed or made prisoners, and the rest fled in haste to the castle. On the morrow, the miller drew off most part of the water from the ditches of the castle, which was then vigorously attacked and defended,--but at last it was taken by storm. Many gallant deeds were done, particularly by the seneschal, who acquired greater renown than any other, although all fought well, for they had not any heavy artillery,--and numbers of the English were killed, wounded, and taken. The remainder took shelter in the _tour grise_, which was impregnable so long as provisions did not fail, being very thick and high, and detached from the castle, surrounded with ditches full of water. Notwithstanding its strength, the French attacked it on all sides,--and while they were thus engaged, the count de Dunois arrived with the lord de Culant and many other knights and esquires. The first had been lately appointed lieutenant-general of the armies of the king of France,--and the lord de Culant had been made grand master of the household. Having had information that lord Talbot was on his march to relieve his countrymen in the tower, and was arrived at Breteuil[2], they soon departed, leaving sir Florent Dilliers, who remained to manage the siege, with about eight hundred combatants. The count de Dunois kept advancing until he met lord Talbot near to Harcourt[3], who, when he perceived the French, fortified himself so strongly, with stakes and the baggage-carts which carried his stores, that they could no way injure him. At nightfall, he retreated in haste to Harcourt. All the ensuing day the French were drawn up in battle-array in the expectation of an engagement, but Talbot would not quit the town. The following knights were this day created: the lord de Herbault, sir John de Bar lord of Baugey, and John Daulon, equerry of the king's stables; and the French, finding that Talbot would not come out of Harcourt, withdrew that evening to Evreux. On the sixth day of August, in this year, the king of France advanced toward Amboise, to cross the river Loire, and march his army into Normandy to support the besiegers of Verneuil. The count de Dunois and his company remained two days in Evreux. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 1: Verneuil,--a town in Normandy, diocese of Evreux.] [Footnote 2: Breteuil,--a town in Normandy, near Conches.] [Footnote 3: Harcourt,--a town in Normandy, election of Conches, ten leagues from Rouen.] CHAP. II. THE COUNT DE ST POL APPEARS BEFORE NOGENT, WHICH SURRENDERS TO HIM.--THE CAPTURE OF POINT-AUDEMER.