CHAP. CCXXV. THE BATTLE OF AURAY, ÏN WHICH SIR BER-TRAND DU GUESCLIN IS MADE PRISONER. CHARLES DE BLOIS IS SLAIN J AND JOHN DB MONTFORT IS VICTORIOUS. LITTLE before eight in the morning, the two i armies advanced near to each other. It was a very fine fight, as I have heard thofe relate who law it ; for the French were in fuch clofe order that one • could fcarcely throw an apple among them, without its falling on a helmet or lance. Each man at arms carried his fpear right before him, cut down to the length of five feet ; a battle-axe, fharp, ftrong and well fteeled, with a fliort handle, was at his fjde, or hung from his neck. They advanced thus handfomely a foot's pace, each lord in array and among his people, with his ban-ner or pennon before him, well knowing what they were to do. On the other hand, the Englifh were drawn up in the handfomeft order. The Bretons, under the command of fir Ber-trand du Guefclin, ported themfelves with his ban-ner oppofite to the battalion of fir Robert Knoiles and fir Walter Huet. The Bretons of either party placed the banners of their two lords, who was each called duke, oppofite to the other* In this firft onfet, there were hard blows between the lancemen, and a fharp fcuffle. True it is, that the Englifh archers fhot well at the commencement j but 188