• . . ' CHAP. xcvn. THE KING OF ENGLAND AND TBE DUKE OF NOR-MANDY ENCAMP THEIR ARMIES OPPOSITE TO . EACH OTHER* NEAR TO VANNES. JTJURING the time the duke of Normandy re-mained in Nantes, the lords of England who were before Rennes made a vigorous affault upon that city : they had, for a long time before, pre-pared machines for this attack. Though it lafted a whole day, they,gained no advantage, but loft many of their men. The baron d'Ancenis, the lord du Pont, fir John de Maleftroit, Yvain Charruel, and Bertrand du Guefclin, then a fquire, were in the town, and, as well as the bilhop, defended themfelves fo valiantly, that they fuffered no lofs. Notwithftanding this, the Englilh remained before the place, and wafted and deft roved the country round about. The duke of Normandy left Nantes with his .army, and was advifed to advance towards Vannes, that he might the fooner meet the enemy ; for he had heard that that town was much ftraitened, and in greater danger of being loft than Rennes. He and his whole army, therefore, took their route to iVpnnes, under the command of the two marihals and fir Geoffry de Charny : the earl of Guines, fon to the conftable of France, had the rearward. They continued their march until they came pretty rirar to Vannes, on the oppofite fide to where the king of England was quartered: * they then halted, encamped 40