When they were asked who they were, and what was the reason of their desperate condition, "We are from Pontoise," they said; "the English took the town this morning; they killed or wounded all before them; happy he whosoever could escape from their hands; never were Saracens so cruel to Christians as yonder folk are." It was a real fact.

The King of England, disquieted at the reconciliation between the Duke of Burgundy and the _dauphin_, and at the ill success of his own proposals at the conference of the 30th of May preceding, had vigorously resumed the war, in order to give both the reunited French factions a taste of his resolution and power.

He had suddenly attacked and carried Pontoise, where the command was in the hands of the lord of Isle-Adam, one of the most valiant Burgundian officers.

Isle-Adam, surprised and lacking sufficient force, had made a feeble resistance.

There was no sign of an active union on the part of the two French factions for the purpose of giving the English battle.
Duke John, who had fallen back upon Troyes, sent order upon order for his vassals from Burgundy, but they did not come up.