ooded. Their forces
were therefore obligated to spread themselves over the neighbouring
fields, and a sudden attack by the English might have been fatal.

Thus distress pressed upon both commanders, and the pope's legates
found their exertions at last crowned with success. A suspension of
hostilities was agreed to, and the Dukes of Burgundy and Bourbon on the
one side and the Earls of Lancaster, Northampton, and Salisbury on
the other, met as commissioners and agreed to a convention by which
a general truce was to be made from the date of the treaty to the
following Michaelmas, and to be prolonged from that day for the full
term of three years. It was agreed that the truce should embrace not
only the sovereigns, but all the adherents of each of them. The truce
was to hold good in Brittany between all parties, and the city of Vannes
was to be given into the hands of the cardinals to dispose of as
they chose. It was specially provided that in the case of any of the
adherents of either party in the Duchies of Gascony and Brittany waging
war against each other, neither of the monarchs should either directly
or indirectly meddle therewith, nor should the truce be at all broken
thereby.

Immediately the treaty was signed, on the 19th of January, 1343, the
King of France dismissed his army, and Edward sailed for England with
the greater part of his troops. The Countess of Montford and her son
accompanied him, and the possessions of her husband in Brittany were
left to the guardianship of her partisans, with a small but choice body
of English troops.

The towns which had fallen into their hands and still remained were
Brest, Quimper-Corentin, Quimperle, Redon, and Guerande; Vannes was
handed over to them by the cardinals, and Hennebon, of course, remained
in their possession.

Walter returned to England with Sir Walter Manny, and on reaching London
was received with delight by his old friends Geoffrey Ward and Giles
Fletcher, who were never tired of listening to his tales of the wars.
Dame Vernon also received him with great kindness, and congratulated him
warmly upon the very favourable account which Sir Walter Manny had given
of his zeal and gallantry.

The time now for a while passed very quietly. Walter and the other young
squires practised diligently, under the instructions of Sir Walter, at
knightly exercises. Walter learned to bear himself well on horseback and
to tilt in the ring. He was already a skilful swordsma