Rimon had no authority to oversee peace negotiations. He sent the letters back home and left the king to choose which side to support.
In Rimon's personal opinion, neither Lancaster nor York was any good. Better to let them fight among themselves and weaken England as a whole.
Two days later, King Charles VII of France received the letters and was overjoyed.
For a moment, he considered ruling England directly, but soon abandoned the idea.
France's core interests had always lain on the European mainland. His foremost task was to subdue and weaken the great nobles within his borders, such as those of Burgundy and Brittany.
To the east, France needed to remain wary of the Holy Roman Empire and contest its control over Flanders and Lorraine.
To the southeast, Charles VII's goal was to control the Italian peninsula. Rich and prosperous, it was worth far more than the cold, rainy island of Britain. France now controlled Genoa and Naples; its next target would be Milan or Florence.
As for England, Charles VII held to his previous policy: weaken it until it could no longer interfere in continental affairs. This cost far less than direct rule, and the returns were more certain.
On October 21, Charles VII's special envoy reached the front and presented his demands to York and Lancaster separately.
During the negotiations, Charles VII ordered the French Army to keep advancing and encircle London according to the original plan.
"I hope it doesn't rain over the next few days." Rimon set out with twenty thousand soldiers and reached the southern bank of the Thames River after three days.
Since improvements in cannon casting, England had built batteries on both banks of the lower Thames River to prevent enemy fleets from attacking London. Yet the English troops had