“The king of England, during the siege, made frequent skirmishes, but without success, always losing some of his men; when, therefore, he found he could gain nothing by his assaults, and that the Lord Charles would not come out into the plains to fight him, he established there the Earl of Oxford, Sir Henry Beaumont, the Lord Percy, the Lord Roos, the Lord Mowbray, the Lord Delawar, Sir Reginald Cobham, Sir John Lisle, with six hundred men armed, and two hundred archers”.

The king himself advanced into the country of Bretagne, wasting it wherever he went, until he came to the town of Dinant, of which Sir Peter Porteboeuf was governor.  He immediately laid siege to it all round, and ordered it to be vigorously assaulted.  Those within made a valiant resistance.  Thus did the king of England in one season, and in one day, make an assault by himself, or those ordered by him, upon three cities in Bretagne, and a good town, viz.  Rennes, Vannes, and Nantes.  The brave Sir Walter Manny was left before Vannes, with five hundred men at arms, and six thousand archers, while the king with the rest of his army advanced towards Rennes and Nantes.  This gallant soldier, at the battle of Calais, had this singular honour conferred on him by his sovereign, who, with his valiant son the Prince of Wales, both served under his banner.—­Edward said to Sir Walter Manny, “Sir Walter, I will that you be the chief of this enterprise, and I and my son will fight under your banner”.

The lively and picturesque historian then gives a very interesting account of the above action, which was fought the last day of December 1348, and of the gallantry of Edward’s conduct to his prisoner, Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont.

“We will now speak of the King of England, who was there incognito, under Sir Walter Manny’s banner.  He advanced with his men on foot, to meet the enemy, who were formed in close order, with their pikes shortened to five feet, planted out before them.  The first attack was very sharp and severe.  The King singled out Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont, who was a strong and hardy knight:  he fought a long time marvellously well with the King, so that it was a pleasure to see them; but, by the confusion of the engagement, they were separated; for two large bodies met where they were fighting, and forced them to break off the combat.

“On the side of the French there was excellent fighting, by Sir Geoffrey de Chargny, Sir John de Landas, Sir Hector, and Sir Gavin de Ballieul, and others; but they were all surpassed by Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont, who that day struck the King twice down on his knees:  at last, however, he was obliged to present his sword to the King, saying, ’Sir Knight, I surrender myself your prisoner, for the honour of the day must fall to the English.’

“All that belonged to Sir Geoffry de Chargny were either slain or captured:  among the first was Sir Henry du Bois, and Sir Peppin de Werre; Sir Geoffry and the rest were taken prisoners.  The last that was taken, and who in that day had excelled all, was Sir Eustace de Ribeaumont.