This had just terminated with the expulsion of the latter from Spain, and the French knights and nobles on their way home for the most part joined at once in the war which their countrymen were waging in Bretagne.
Seeing the great force which was gathering for a fresh siege of Hennebon, Sir Walter Manny and the Countess of Montford sent an urgent message to King Edward for further support.

The king was not yet ready, but at the beginning of August he despatched a force under the command of the Earl of Northampton and Robert of Artois.

It consisted of twenty-seven knights bannerets and 2000 men-at-arms.

Before, however, it could reach Hennebon the second siege of that city had begun.

Charles of Blois had approached it with a far larger army than that with which he had on the first occasion sat down before it.