A decisive victory which this fleet won over an English convoy off Rochelle proved a fatal blow to the English cause.

It wrested from Edward the mastery of the seas, and cut off all communication between England and Guienne.

Charles was at once roused to new exertions.

Poitou, Saintonge, and the Angoumois yielded to his general Du Guesclin; and Rochelle was surrendered by its citizens in 1372.

The next year saw a desperate attempt to restore the fortune of the English arms.