THE BASTARD OF BOURBON TAKES THE TOWN OF LA MOTHE IN LORRAINE.
IN this year, the bastard of Bourbon left Jargeaux with about four hundred combatants, whom he marched by many days journeys to La Mothe[45] in Lorraine, and took it by storm. Every thing portable was seized on by his men,—and he remained there for a month, making excursions and pillaging all the country round. He even attempted the town of St Nicholas de Varengeville, which for a long time had not been attacked by any men at arms of either party.
Upon this, the governors of Lorraine, foreseeing the total ruin of that country, treated with the bastard of Bourbon to surrender the town of La Mothe and quit those parts, on receiving a large sum of money. When the money was paid, the bastard departed, and set out, with all his men, to return to the place whence they had come; but as he was marching near to Langres[46], he was pursued and overtaken by sir John du Vergy, Anthony de Gelet, Philippot de Sainginis, who attacked and conquered him, and won from him all his plunder. Upwards of six score remained dead on the field; the rest, or the greater part of them, were made prisoners.
Thus those who had been robbed were in some measure avenged on their marauders,—but they did not recover what had been taken from them.—With regard to the said bastard, he was neither killed nor made prisoner.