[A.D. 1456.]
CHAP. LXIV.
THE KING OF FRANCE IS DISCONTENTED WITH THE DAUPHIN, FOR GOING TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY WITHOUT HIS CONSENT.—POPE CALIXTUS MAKES REGULATIONS RESPECTING THE CROISADE AGAINST THE TURKS.
In the year 1456, the king of France, learning that his eldest son had left Dauphiny, and gone to the territories of the duke of Burgundy to consult with him, was very much displeased that he should have done this without previously informing him thereof. And because he doubted his being led away by bad advice, and acting imprudently, he determined to take possession of Dauphiny, to avoid the inconveniences that might ensue, and also to reduce him to that obedience a son owes a father.
In consequence, he marched a powerful army into Dauphiny, and took full possession of all its rents and revenues, together with the castles and strong holds, to prevent his son from receiving any advantages from them, and to induce him the more speedily to return. The king sent also men at arms to guard the passages at Pontoise, Compiègne, in Brie, and other parts, and forbade the great towns to admit the dauphin or any of his partisans, unless they should be forced thereto. He did all this, from his opinion how headstrong and obstinate the dauphin was: as a convincing proof of which, when he left the king, he had asked leave to be absent only four months, and had remained nearly ten years, to the great vexation of his father.
About this time, pope Calixtus III. made certain regulations respecting a croisade, and issued indulgences to all who should carry into execution the contents of the bulls that had been published by him, and had been promulgated by different preachers throughout Christendom.
Certain proposals were now sent by the duke of Burgundy to the king of France respecting the dauphin, and were laid before him by the duke's ambassadors.
In this season, the Hungarians made a great destruction of the infidels in Hungary, by the counsel of sir John Capestrian[188], an ancient disciple of St Bernard, in conjunction with the aid of a wise and valiant knight called sir Guillaume Blanc[189]. By their means, the Turks, who were very numerous in Belgrade, were driven out of that city, and more than fifteen thousand were slain: indeed, none escaped being put to death. On the morrow, great armies of Turks advanced, and were valiantly fought with by the Christians, who again gained the victory, and slew one hundred thousand Turks between sunrise and sunset.
The soldan of Persia[190], commander in chief of the Turks, was there in person; and seeing the discomfiture of his army, he fled with a few of his men to a city called Boibe[191], and thence into Greece. The chevalier Blanc pursued him, and won the city of Boibe, putting to death two thousand Turks; and by the aid of God, following up their success, the Christians won very many towns and strong castles, namely, the city of Bastiliance, Ulgaria, Fastigia, Emere, and a very handsome town called Angasta[192]: in the latter, fifteen thousand Turks were destroyed. The Christians lost, at this last attack, five thousand men, whom may God receive in paradise! 'Quia dignus operarius mercede sua.'
The Christians afterwards gained St Vincent[193], and the town and castle of Valence[194]; and as they proceeded, the inhabitants were converted to the Christian faith. They continued successful, and won the town and castle of Flagis and Gaunaldalo, and Porrus, Stavengier and Chastouen[195], where four thousand Turks were put to death, with the loss of one hundred Christians, whose souls may God pardon! The Christians now entered Greece with a large army, and conquered a great city called Glotuase[196], where they slew ten thousand infidels.