ms, deplored to them the calamity of their sovereign.
She recommended to their care the illustrious orphan, the sole male
remaining of their ancient princes, who had governed them with such
indulgence and lenity, and to whom they had ever professed the most
zealous attachment. She declared herself willing to run all hazards with
them in so just a cause; discovered the resources which still remained
in the alliance of England; and entreated them to make one effort
against a usurper, who, being imposed on them by the arms of France,
would in return make a sacrifice to his protector of the ancient
liberties of Brittany. The audience, moved by the affecting appearance,
and inspirited by the noble conduct of the princess, vowed to live
and die with her in defending the rights of her family: all the other
fortresses of Brittany embraced the same resolution: the countess went
from place to place encouraging the garrisons, providing them with every
thing necessary for subsistence, and concerting the proper plans of
defence; and after she had put the whole province in a good posture,
she shut herself up in Hennebonne, where she waited with impatience the
arrival of those succors which Edward had promised her. Meanwhile she
sent over her son to England, that she might both put him in a place of
safety, and engage the king more strongly, by such a pledge, to embrace
with zeal the interests of her family.

Charles of Blois, anxious to make himself master of so important a
fortress as Hennebonne, and still more to take the countess prisoner,
from whose vigor and capacity all the difficulties to his succession
in Brittany now proceeded, sat down before the place with a great
army, composed of French, Spaniards, Genoese, and some Bretons; and he
conducted the attack with indefatigable industry.[*]

* Froissard, liv. i. chap. 81.

The defence was no less vigorous: the besiegers were repulsed in every
assault: frequent sallies were made with success by the garrison; and
the countess herself being the most forward in all military operations,
every one was ashamed not to exert himself to the utmost in this
desperate situation. One day, she perceived that the besiegers, entirely
occupied in an attack, had neglected a distant quarter of their camp;
and she immediately sallied forth at the head of a body of two hundred
cavalry, threw them into confusion, did great execution upon them,
and set fire to their tents, baggage, and magazine