ral 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 200 spears, 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 s