knowing himfelf to be the lord of Bteft, bid once befieged it, but had not pufhed it forward: when he marched away, he faid nothing could be done: at which feveral knights and (quires of Brittany murmured behind his back, faying that he feigned and diffembled, as thofe who held it were his great friends, and that he would not on any account, wifh it even in his own poffeffion, nor in that of the king of France : for, if the French had it, he would not be the mafter, but be much weakened by it ; and, as long as the Englifh held it, the French would Bor dare to anger him. The confutable of France* having confidered the whole bufinefs, thought that, if the duke of Brit* tany were indifferent as to the recovering the town and caftle of Breft from the hands of the enemies of France, it would be difhonourable to him and to the nobles of Brittany. He therefore ordered it to be befieged, and fent thither great numbers of knights and fquires, under the com-mand of the lord de 'Maleftroit, the vifcount dé la Belliere, Morfpnace, and the lord de Ro-' ohederrient Thefe four valiant men laid their fiege as near to Brèft as was poffible, and erected a large and fair blockhoufe of wood, furrounding alfo the place ^ith pali&does and walls, fo that the gar-fifon was! fhut up from all communication but by fea: on that fide, it was not poffible for ' them to furround them. There were frequent gkirmifhes beforeiBreft; for thofe companions who were fond of arms advanced gaily to the barriers* where •«04