Bertrand continued the war against the English, for the King of France, fighting at Cocherel, Valognes, Carentan, and many other places. The victory of Cocherel, 13th May 1364, had a happy influence on the kingdom and king, overturning the power of Charles (called "the bad" by those who did not like him) King of Navarre, whose league with the English, and whose possessions in Normandy made him formidable to Charles of France, called from this time-and deservedly called the "Wise." At length Bertrand was despatched in great haste to assist Charles de Blois before Auray, where the castle was closely pressed by young John de Montfort. The king sent not only Bertrand, but all the other friends of Charles at that time in his service; and they went in such numbers, that De Montfort and Chandos thought it right to offer peace again, on condition of dividing the duchy; but again Jane de Blois interfered, and prevented the conclusion of a treaty. She even returned a very haughty answer to this pacific message, although she was well aware of the extreme distress of the people in the castle. The garrison had eaten all their horses, and were now lighting fires every night to give notice to Charles de Blois of their starving state. He was encamped at Louvaux l'Abbage, too far off to see their signal; but couriers rode forward to inform him: and as he was tenderhearted and religious, his grief and his wish for peace were very sincere. He wrote a letter to the governor of Auray, saying that he hoped at all events to bring them help by St. Michael's day. But how should this letter be introduced into a castle so completely invested? A crossbowman undertook to send it on the point of an arrow, and he shot so well, that it fell exactly on the platform of the tower, where the besieged were again lighting their fire of distress. The governor read it to his officers; but they had no food to last them till St. Michael's day; -no, nor for one single day beyond that on which they were reading their duke's letter of promise. They therefore hung out a flag of truce, and Robert Knowles came near the gate to know what they wanted. "Food!" they cried. "If you will give us food, we will surrender the castle on St. Michael's day, unless our Lord Charles has by that time brought us relief." Robert Knowles willingly agreed, and supplies were sent into them. In the mean time Charles did advance with his allies, and when the besieged men in the castle saw the banners of his army at a distance, they also raised their standards on the keep, and bade the violins and trumpets sound. When Du Guesclin heard the music, and looking up saw the pennons floating in the air, he could not but admire the cheerfulness and constancy of men so hardly tried. The two armies waited all night in battlearray, with only a little rivulet between them and many a man could see his friends and rela-. tions standing on the opposite bank, who were perhaps to be killed in a few hours by his own hand. Charles de Blois, faithful to the forms of his church, confessed his sins to the priest, took the sacrament and heard the mass three times; but still he listened to his wife's passionate counsel, made ready for a bloody pitched battle, and would not even attend to Du Guesclin's advice to wait till he could move into a better position. In the mean while, the Sire de Beaumanoir, a very good and brave man, now a prisoner to De Montfort, crossed the water again and again, going from side to side, trying to negotiate peace, and, as he said, prevent the death of so many valiant knights. De Montfort again assembled his officers, and offered to give up even the half duchy if they were disposed to take Charles and Jane for their sovereigns. But this they would not hear of. Each and all answered that they would follow him to the last. He then gave each chief the kiss of peace, made the sign of the cross, and vaulted upon his horse. The men of Blois began the battle. Chandos, who commanded for the young Count de Montfort by Edward III.'s desire, had said, "Let them come over the stream, because the tide will soon be up, and then they will not be able to get back again." He had also spoken privately to Sir Hugh Calverley, and requested him to conceal himself with a party of five hundred men, among some coppice wood and bushes on the flank of the enemy. Sir Hugh was at first very unwilling to be put out of active service, and to lie quiet doing nothing, |