e probably, d'Auray, as Brest is much more than three
leagues from Hennebon], which lies as near as three leagues from thence."
Though hotly pursued by the assailants, "she rode so fast and so well
that she and the greater part of her folks arrived at the castle of
Brest, where she was received and feasted right joyously. Those of her
folks who were in Hennebon were all night in great disquietude because
neither she nor any of her company returned; and the assailant lords, who
had taken up quarters nearer to the town, cried, 'Come out, come out, and
seek your countess; she is lost; you will not find a bit of her.' In such
fear the folks in Hennebon remained five days. But the countess wrought
so well that she had now full five hundred comrades armed and well
mounted; then she set out from Brest about midnight and came away,
arriving at sunrise and riding straight upon one of the flanks of the
enemy's host; there she had the gate of Hennebon castle opened, and
entered in with great joy and a great noise of trumpets and drums;
whereby the besiegers were roughly disturbed and awakened."

The joy of the besieged was short. Charles of Blois pressed on the siege
more rigorously every day, threatening that, when he should have taken
the place, he would put all the inhabitants to the sword. Consternation
spread even to the brave; and a negotiation was opened with a view of
arriving at terms of capitulation. By dint of prayers Countess Joan
obtained a delay of three days. The first two had expired, and the
besiegers were preparing for a fresh assault, when Joan, from the top of
her tower, saw the sea covered with sails: "'See, see,' she cried, the
aid so much desired!' Every one in the town, as best they could, rushed
up at once to the windows and battlements of the walls to see what it
might be," says Froissart. In point of fact it was a fleet with six
thousand men brought from England to the relief of Hennebon by Amaury de
Clisson and Walter de Manny; and they had been a long while detained at
sea by contrary winds."

[Illustration: 'See! See!' she cried----283]

When they had landed the countess herself went to them and feasted them
and thanked them greatly, which was no wonder, for she had sore need of
their coming." It was far better still when, next day, the new arrivals
had attacked the besiegers and gained a brilliant victory over them.
When they re-entered the place, "whoever," says Froissart, "saw the
counte