CHAP. CCII. SIR ROBERT KNOLLES MAKES AN EXCURSION IXfCf BERRY AND AUVERGNE. HE IS PURSUED BY THE GENTLEMEN OF THOSE COUNTRIES. this fame period, in the year 1359, fir Robert Knolles prepared au expedition, confifting of three thoufand perfons including every one. With this army, he quitted the marches of Brittany ; and having followed the courfe of the Loire upwards, entered the province of Berry, overrunning and defixoying all that part of the country. • It was re-ported that his intentions were to pafs through Auvergne, to pay a vifit to the pope and cardinals at Avignon, and get fome of their florins, as the archprieft had done before. * - The gentlemen of Auvergne, and Limoufin, aflTembled in large bodies, to oppofe this invafion ; in particular, the count de Forefts, who brought with him four hundred lances ; and they were very numerous when all were aflembled. Sir Robert Knolles and his troops, who were all called Englilhmen, continued their march from JBrittany unmolefied, until they came to the borders of Auvergne. The lords of Auvergne, with their array, advanced to within à Ihort day's journey of fir Robert. They obferved, from a mountain where they had polled themfelves, all that the Eng-lilh were doing. On the morrow, they marched to that part; there were only two Ihort country leagues between them ; when they halted, and took poll on • a moun-' 484