It gathered,
however, so slowly that he was obliged to give up the expedition.
Philip was about this time besieging Falaise; he won it, and went on
in triumph to receive the surrender of Domfront, Seez, Lisieux, Caen,
Bayeux, Coutances, Barfleur, and Cherbourg. He was then joined by
John's late ally, the Count of Boulogne, as well as by Guy of Thouars,
the widower of Constance of Brittany; and these two, their forces
swelled by a troop of mercenaries who had transferred their services
from John to Philip after the surrender of Falaise, completed the
conquest of Southwestern Normandy, while the French King at last set
his face toward Rouen. He was not called upon to besiege it, nor even
to threaten it with a siege. On June 1, 1204, Peter de Preaux made in
his own name, and in the names of the commandants of Arques and
Verneuil, a truce with Philip, promising that these two fortresses and
Rouen should surrender if not succored within thirty days. The three
castellans sent notice of this arrangement to John, who, powerless and
penniless as he was, scornfully bade them "look for no help from him,
but do whatsoever seemed to them best.
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