[Footnote 472: Rymer, _Foedera_, vol. iv, part iv, p. 135. Mademoiselle A. de Villaret, _Campagne des Anglais dans l'Orleanais, la Beauce chartraine et le Gatinais_ (1421-1428), Orleans, 1893, in 8vo, original documents, p. 134. Stevenson, _Letters and Papers_, vol. i, pp. 403 _et seq._] [Illustration: VIEW OF ORLEANS, 1428-1429] Now the most cunning, the most expert, the most fortunate in arms of all the English captains and princes was Thomas Montacute, Earl of Salisbury and of Perche.[473] He had long waged war in Normandy, in Champagne, and in Maine. At present he was gathering an army in England, intended for the banks of the Loire. He got as many bowmen as he wanted; but of horse and men-at-arms he was disappointed. Only those of low estate were willing to go and fight in a land ravaged by famine.[474] At length the noble earl, the fair cousin of King Henry, crossed the sea with four hundred and forty-nine men-at-arms and two thousand two hundred and fifty archers.[475] In France he found troops recruited by the Regent, four hundred horse of whom two hundred were Norman, with three bowmen to each horseman, according to the English custom.[476] He led his men to Paris where irrevocable resolutions were taken.[477] Hitherto the plan had been to attack Angers; at the last moment it was decided to lay siege to Orleans.[478] [Footnote 473: Monstrelet, vol. iv, p. 300.] [Footnote 474: L. Jarry, _Le compte de l'armee anglaise au siege d'Orleans, 1428-1429_, Orleans, 1892, in 8vo, pp. 59 _et seq._] [Footnote 475: Monstrelet, vol. iv, p. 293. Rymer, _Foedera_, vol. iv, part iv, pp. 132, 135, 138.] [Footnote 476: L. Jarry, _Le compte de l'armee anglaise_, pp. 26, 27.] [Footnote 477: Monstrelet, vol. iv, p. 294. Stevenson, _Letters and Papers_, p. lxii.] [Footnote 478: Boucher de Molandon and A. de Beaucorps, _L'armee anglaise vaincue par Jeanne d'Arc sous les murs d'Orleans_, Orleans, 1892, in 8vo, p. 61. L. Jarry, _loc. cit._]