neighbouring country, and alfo tó conduit fuch troops after him as might arrive ··. They then advanced towards Nantes, which is the principal town of Brittany, and where their enemy, the earl of Montfort, had fixed his refidence. The marlhals of the army, and the advanced guard, came to a tolerable good town, furrounded with ditches, which they immediately attacked. Thofe within were not very numerous, nor well armed ; confequently the town was foon taken and pillaged : one half of it was burnt and the inhabi-. tants flain. This town was called Carquefou, artd is about four or five leagues from Nantes. The lords remained for the night in that neighbourhood: the next day they advanced to Nantes, which they laid fiege to, and pitched their tents and pavilions. The men at arms in the city, who were very numerous, and the citizens, having perceived this, haftened to arm themfelves, and wen? to the differs ent pofts afligned them for defending their town. The army before it, having fixed upon their quarters, went out a foraging; and fome of the Genoefe and foot foldiers advanced, as far as the barriers, to ikirmifli. Several young men of the towû with a few foldiers fallied out to meet them, * The hiftorian of Brittany fays, the French kept thi* place* and that king John gave it as an appanage to his fon, Lewis count d'Anjou. Charles V. acknowledged that it belonged to the dukes of Brittany, and gave it back. VOL. L Τ and