At some distance from the earl's ship, the Poitevins under the command of Sir Guiscard d' Angle, the Lord de Tannay bouton and other knights, continued the fight in another ship; Sir Otho de Grantson engaged Ambroise de Boccanera and Rodrigo de Rosas; but they were too much for him: so that all those knights were taken by the Spaniards ---not one escaped. The men-at-arms on board these vessels were also in great danger, but the lords when taken desired that the slaughter might cease, as they would pay a proper ransom for them. Whoever may find himself in such a strait of arms as were the Earl of Pembroke and Sir Guiscard d' Angle this day, must cheerfully submit to whatever GOD or fortune may please to order. Be it known, however, that in the loss of knights and squires this day the King of England was far the greater sufferer: for, indeed, in consequence of the defeat he lost the whole of Guienne. I was told that the English vessel which had on board the money with which the Earl of Pembroke and Sir Guiscard were to pay the men, was lost and everything it contained, so that the money was of no profit to any one. All this day, which was the vigil of S. John the Baptist, the ensuing night, and the morrow until noon, did the Spaniards remain at anchor before La Rochelle, shouting and rioting with joy. Now it fortunately happened that a knight of Poitou, by name Sir James de Surgeres, addressed with so much eloquence the knight who had captured him, that he gave him his liberty for three hundred francs, which the

former paid down. Sir James dined at La Rochelle on S. John's day, and by him it was first known how the affair had ended, who were slain and who made prisoners. Many citizens of the place pretended to be much concerned at the event of the battle; but in their hearts they rejoiced at it, for they never were much inclined towards the English.

In the afternoon of S. John's day, at high tide, the Spaniards weighed anchor, set their sails, and departed with a great noise of trumpets and drums. Each ship bore on its mast head a pennon-like standard with the arms of Castile displayed upon it, and of such a length that the end of it touched the waves. It was a fine sight to see the fleet thus sail off, as it steered for the coast of Galicia. The same day towards evening, there came into La Rochelle a large body of men-at-arms, Gascons and English, who had not heard what had passed; but knew only that the Spaniards were lying before the town, and that they had done so for a considerable time. The object of their coming, therefore, was to reinforce it. The leaders of the Gascons were the Captal de Buch, Sir Beras de la Lande, Sir Peter de Landura, and Sir Bertrand du Trane: of the English, the Lord Thomas Percy, Sir Richard de Pontchardon, Sir William Farrington, the Earl of Angus, Sir Walter Hewett, and Sir John Devereux. Now when these lords and their companions, in full six hundred men, had entered La Rochelle, the inhabitants professed themselves glad to see them, for indeed they dared not do otherwise. It was from Sir James de Surgeres that

these also learned the event of the battle with the Spaniards, and the names of the killed and taken. Sorely, indeed, were they afflicted at the news, and they thought themselves more unfortunate than ever for not arriving sooner. Most of all they regretted the loss of the Earl of Pembroke and Sir Guiscard d' Angle: however, it was now too late to mend the

matter.

The King of France, on hearing of the success of the Spaniards, was exceedingly rejoiced, and resolved to pay more attention than ever to the affairs of Poitou: for he considered, and perhaps rightly enough, that if the English should have a few more such defeats, the principal cities and towns would willingly surrender to him. The English, on the other hand, were in sad trouble at the loss they had sustained, and some of the wisest men in the kingdom gave it as their opinion that this unfortunate circumstance would be the ruin of all their possessions in Poitou and Saintonge. Many councils were held upon the subject; and the Earl of Salisbury was ordered off to those parts with five hundred men-at-arms. However, notwithstanding this order, he never went, for other affairs came into agitation which prevented this expedition from taking place.

Sir Bertrand du Guesclin, the Constable of France.

You heard just now, that the Earl of Salisbury was prevented from carrying assistance into Poitou and Saintonge, although the expedition had been determined upon in the English council; I must now tell, that it was the state of affairs in Brittany, which prevented him. Not very long after the defeat of the English off La Rochelle, the constable of France, Sir Bertrand du Guesclin, attended by many barons and knights, entered Brittany with a large army; and on his approach, the Lord John de Montfort, duke of Brittany, having no confidence in his people, embarked for England, when he entreated the King so earnestly for aid, that orders were given for the Earl of Salisbury to

desist from his present undertaking, and go to the coast of Brittany instead. When the duke left his own country for England, he nominated Sir Robert Knolles governor of the duchy, who, on finding that but few of the lords were inclined to obey him, shut himself up in the strong town of Brest. He also sufficiently reinforced with men his own castle of Deval, and having provided it with every necessary, gave the command of it to his cousin, Sir Hugh Brock. The constable of France first directed his march through Lower Brittany, because it was more attached to the duke than the upper parts. After taking by storm and surrender many cities and forts, he came before Hennebon, the governor of which at the time was an English squire, by name Thomelin Ubich, whom the duke had nominated to the office. There was also with him in the castle, a knight, by name Sir Thomas Pryor, who had been sent thither by Sir Robert Knolles, and the garrison might consist of about fourscore men, without counting the inhabitants of the town.

The French, on their arrival, began to prepare for a most violent attack on the castle, for they carried with them many large engines and cannons, which had already done for them much execution. As soon, then, as these were arranged against the walls of the town and castle of Hennebon, the constable ordered the assault to begin; for he had resolved to sup in the place that evening. The assault was very severe; the French did not spare themselves at all: the inhabitants, however, assisted by the English, made as gal