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. CHAP. XLII. THE DUKE OF BEDFORD LAYS SIEGE TO MONTARGIS.--THE SIEGE IS RAISED BY THE FRENCH.--OTHER EVENTS BRIEFLY TOUCHED ON. This year, the duke of Bedford, who styled himself regent of France for king Henry, had the town and castle of Montargis besieged by the earls of Warwick and Suffolk. With them were the lord de la Pole, brother to the earl of Suffolk, sir Henry Bisset and other captains, having under them three thousand combatants. The town was so situated that it required three different sieges, which could with difficulty afford assistance to each other: however, the English formed lodgements all around it and fortified them. The earl of Warwick was quartered in a nunnery on one side of the town. They soon threw bridges over different parts of the river to serve for communications between their quarters.