CHAP. XLI.
THE TOWN OF VILLENEUVE-LE-ROI IS TAKEN BY SCALADO.—THE SIEGE OF THE PONT ST ESPRIT.—THE CROISADE UNDERTAKEN BY THE POPE,—AND MANY OTHER MATTERS.
THE TOWN OF VILLENEUVE-LE-ROI IS TAKEN BY SCALADO.—THE SIEGE OF THE PONT ST ESPRIT.—THE CROISADE UNDERTAKEN BY THE POPE,—AND MANY OTHER MATTERS.
Inthese days, the town of Villeneuve-le-Roi, seated on the river Yonne, was surprised by scalado, by a party of Burgundians; in which place were killed and taken many who supported the dauphin's party.
At this time also, the duke of Bedford joined his brother the king of England with eight hundred men at arms and two thousand archers. They were joyfully received by the king, his brothers, and the duke of Burgundy, whose army was greatly strengthened by this reinforcement.
The dauphin was not idle on his side: he had marched a considerable force into Languedoc, and laid siege to the town of the Pont du St Esprit, on the Rhône, which was garrisoned by the prince ofOrange's men for the duke of Burgundy. He pointed against it many engines that had been sent him from Avignon and Provence, and pressed the place so much that it surrendered.
In like manner, he subdued the greater part of the towns and castles in Languedoc that were attached to the burgundian party through the influence of the prince of Orange; and having placed therein sufficient garrisons and expert commanders, he returned to Bourges in Berry, where he assembled a very large army to enable him to oppose the king of England and the duke of Burgundy, who he knew were preparing to conquer all towns and castles that were attached to him.
At this time also, the holy father the pope ordered a croisade to be undertaken against Bohemia; the leaders of which were the archbishop of Cologne, the bishop of Liege, the archbishop of Treves, the bishop of Mentz, count Louis du Rhin, and many other great lords of upper Germany, and from the adjoining parts. They entered the country near Prague, where they committed great devastations, andtook a strong castle, called Nansonne[6], and the well fortified town of Culhue[6], as well as some others. However, great numbers of this army quitted it and returned home, because it seemed to them that their leaders were too avaricious.
The cardinal duke of Bar, with his nephew Réné d'Anjou, son of his sister and the late king Louis of Sicily, whom he had declared his heir to the duchy of Bar, having already given him the marquisate du Pont, besieged with a powerful force the town and castle of Ligny en Barrois, the principal town of that country, because John of Luxembourg had not performed his duty as guardian to the young count de St Pol, by doing homage, neither had it been done by duke John of Brabant, brother to the count. Those within the town were partisans of the Burgundy faction, while the cardinal and his country were of the opposite party. When the siege had been continued some time, the place submitted to the obedienceof the cardinal, who placed therein his own garrison and officers.
Nevertheless, by some negotiations between the parties, the town, castle and country, were afterward restored to the young count de St Pol, who again garrisoned it with his own people.
FOOTNOTES:[6]I have looked into L'Enfant's 'Guerre des Hussites,' but cannot find mention made of these places, or any of similar sound.
[6]I have looked into L'Enfant's 'Guerre des Hussites,' but cannot find mention made of these places, or any of similar sound.
[6]I have looked into L'Enfant's 'Guerre des Hussites,' but cannot find mention made of these places, or any of similar sound.