# - 231 in order to be ready to fight the enemy fhould they advance to that quarter. The conftable had difmiffed the greater part of his men : he had alfo on his hands, the fieges of Bechcrel and of Derval, and did not imagine the carl of Salifbury would have arrived on the coaft fo foon. He fet out from near Nantes when the day approached for the furrender of Breft, but did • not march quite fb far ; for he had had intelligence that the Englifh were in fufficient force to fight with him. On hearing this, he halted where he was, and remained there quiet for about feven days, being defirous of having • the advice of a full council of war which he had fummoned. The earl of Salifbury had pofted himfelf very adyantageoufly before Breft \ and, finding that the conftable and Bretons did not advance, he fent a herald to fir Bertrand du Guefclin, who, on his arrival, refpeftfully faluted him, and faid * € My lord, the carl of Salifbury and the lords of Eng-land fignify by me, who am a herald at arms and their fervant, that as you had for a long time befieged the town and caftle of Breft, and certain treaties and capitulations had been entered into for its furrender unlefs it fhould be fuccoured before a certain day, which is not far diftant,. they wifh to inform you that they have encamped themfelves before Breft to fulfil this engagement and to defend the caftle : they beg and entreat of you, therefore, to advance, when you fhall be fought with without fail s and fuppofing you refufe your confent to this, that you will fend back the hdftages.' G 4 % 'The