At the same time that John was in London the King of Cyprus, the King of Denmark, and the King of Scotland were also there, and the meeting of four monarchs in London was the occasion of extraordinary festivities and rejoicing, the king and his royal guests being several times entertained at sumptuous banquets by the lord-mayor, the ex-mayor Henry Pickard, and several of the aldermen.
Six weeks after John's arrival in London he was seized with illness at the palace of the Savoy, and died on the 8th of April, 1364.The Dauphin, Charles, now succeeded him as Charles V, and the war between the houses of Navarre and Valois was carried on with greater fury than ever.The armies of Navarre were commanded by the Captal de Buch, who was a distant relation of the king; while those of Charles were headed by the Marechal de Boucicault and Bertrand du Guesclin, one of the most gallant of the French knights.A great battle was fought near Cocherel.Contrary to the orders of the Captal, his army, which consisted principally of adventurers, descended from the strong position he had chosen, and gave battle in the plain.They were completely defeated, and the Captal himself taken prisoner.
In Brittany John of Montford and Charles of Blois had renewed their struggle, and King Charles, seeing the danger of Brittany falling into the hands of De Montford, who was a close ally of England, interfered in favour of Charles of Blois, and sent Du Guesclin to his assistance.
This was a breach of the treaty of Bretigny, and De Montford at once sent to the Black Prince for assistance.The Prince did not treat the conduct of Charles as a breach of the treaty, and took no part himself in the war, but permitted Sir John Chandos, who was a personal friend of De Montford, to go to his aid.De Montford's army, after the arrival of Chandos with 200spears, amounted to but 1600 men-at-arms and from 800 to 900 archers, while Charles of Blois had 4000 men-at-arms and a proportionate number of infantry.De Montford tried to negotiate.He offered to divide the dukedom, and to agree that in case he died childless it should revert to the family of Charles.Charles, however, refused all terms, even to grant his adversary's request to put off the battle until the morrow, so as to avoid violating the Sabbath; and having given orders that all prisoners taken in the battle should be hung, he advanced upon De Montford.
Both forces were divided in four bodies.The first on De Montford's side was commanded by Sir Robert Knolles, the second by Oliver de Clisson, the third by Chandos and De Montford, the fourth by Sir Hugh de Calverley.Du Guesclin led the front division of Charles's army, the Counts of Auxerre and Joigny the second, Charles himself the third, and the Lords of Roye and Rieux the reserve.The ducal arms of Brittany were displayed on both sides.
By slow degrees the two armies closed with each other in deadly strife.
Both parties had dismounted and fought on foot with lances shortened to five feet.Du Guesclin and his division attacked that of Knolles.Auxerre fell upon De Clisson, while the divisions of the two rival princes closed with each other.After desperate fighting numbers prevailed.De Montford was driven back, but Calverley advanced to his aid, fell upon the rear of the French, threw them into disorder, and then having rallied De Montford's men, retired to his former position in readiness to give succour again where it might be needed.
In the meantime Clisson had been engaged in a desperate struggle with the Count of Auxerre, but was obtaining no advantage.Clisson himself had received the blow of a battle-axe which had dashed in the vizor of his helmet and blinded for ever one of his eyes.He was still leading his men, but the enemies' superior numbers were pressing him back, when Chandos, the instant the assistance of Calverley had relieved De Montford's division, perceiving his danger, drew off a few men-at-arms, and with them fell upon the rear of the Count of Auxerre, and dashing all who opposed him to the ground with his battle-axe, cleft his way to the very centre of the enemy.
Pressed by De Clisson in front and broken by the sudden attack of Chandos in the rear, the French division gave way in every direction.Auxerre was desperately wounded, and he and Joigny both taken prisoners.
Chandos then returned to De Montford, who had gallantly followed up the advantage gained by the confusion into which Charles's division had been thrown by the attack of Calverley.Charles was routed; he himself struck down and slain by an English soldier, and the division defeated with great slaughter.De Montford's whole force now gathered round Du Guesclin's division, which now alone remained, and after fighting gallantly until all hope was gone, the brave French knight and his companions yielded themselves as prisoners.
The battle of Auray terminated the struggle between the houses of Blois and Montford.More than 1000 French men-at-arms died on the field, among whom were many of the noblest in Brittany.Two counts, 27 lords, and 1500men-at-arms were made prisoners.De Montford now took possession of the whole of Brittany, and at the suggestion of King Edward himself did homage to Charles V for the duchy, which he afterwards ruled with wisdom.
