CHAP. XLI.
THE CASTLE OF MOYENNES IN CHAMPAGNE SURPRISED BY THE FRENCH.—THE POPE GIVES SENTENCE IN FAVOUR OF THE DUKE OF BRABANT.—THE FORTRESS OF ORIPECTE IN PROVENCE WON BY TREACHERY.
IN these days, the castle of Moyennes in Champagne was surprised by a party from king Charles, through the treachery of an Englishman of the garrison. It was, however, instantly besieged by the earl of Salisbury, who remained so long before it that it was forced to surrender. The French within it were allowed to depart in safety; but those who had been attached to the english and burgundian party were punished with death,—and among them was a gentleman called Gilles de Clary. Sir John de Luxembourg was present at the surrender; and when the walls had been completely demolished, he returned to his castle of Beaurevoir.
The pope this year published his definitive sentence in the suit of the duke of Brabant, by which he declared that the marriage between the duke of Glocester and Jacquiline duchess of Bavaria was null and void; and that if the duke of Brabant should die, the said duke of Glocester and the duchess Jacquiline could not be legally married to each other.
The duke of Glocester, on being informed of this sentence of the pope, took to wife a woman of low degree compared with his rank, named Eleanor Cobham, of whom mention has been before made. The duke had for some time lived with her as his mistress; and her character was not spotless in regard to her connexions with others beside the duke. This created much wonder in France and in England, considering that the duke did not act conformably to the blood he sprung from.
At this period sir John Blondel, accompanied by John Blondel, his cousin german, and eight others his companions in arms, by means of the chaplain, gained the fortress of Oripecte in Provence, of which John Cadart was governor, and made him prisoner, expecting to receive a large sum for his ransom. News of this was soon spread over the country; and the place was so expeditiously and strongly besieged that those who had won it were glad to be allowed to depart in safety, and without carrying away any thing. Notwithstanding this treaty, on their marching out, John Blondel was slain by the peasants, and the chaplain who had done the treason was beheaded.