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.