A little before this, one called Watelin Tieulier made war on the count de Vaudemont, and had fixed his retreat in a strong castle of his father-in-law, the lord de Hartuel, who supported him. He had done much mischief by fire and sword to the vassals of the count, who in revenge, accompanied by his nephew the count de Blamont, the lord de Commerci, Forte-Espice, and about four hundred combatants, marched against this castle, took it by storm, and the knight within it. The Lorrainers were seen instantly after advancing with a strong army, to assist the knight; but finding that the place was taken, and the enemies on the ramparts, they retreated, and increased their army, in order to lay siege to Monstier sur Saxe[20]; but sir Hector de Flavy had burnt the town which they intended to take and lodge in: they were, therefore, obliged to return whence they had come. Thus did these two parties mutually destroy each other. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 18: Vaudemont,--six leagues from Toul, seven from Nancy, three from Mirecour.] [Footnote 19: Veselize,--five leagues S.E. from Toul, two N. from Vaudemont.] [Footnote 20: Monstier sur Saxe,--six leagues from Bar-le-duc.] [A.D. 1438.] CHAP. LXXIX. FAMINE, WAR, AND PESTILENCE, RAGE IN MANY PLACES. At the beginning of this year, the famine, which had long afflicted many parts, was much increased; and it was pitiful to see the multitudes of poor who died daily from want. There were also epidemic distempers in various parts of France, and in Flanders,--but the towns of Bruges and Paris suffered more from them than any other. War was likewise carried on with great bitterness in many places. From these three plagues many of the nobles, and common people were great sufferers, and in doleful perplexity. In the mean time, that body of French called Skinners remained in large parties on the borders of Burgundy, where they committed unnumbered mischiefs, by taking castles and prisoners, killing men, and ravishing women, noble or not, and acting as if they were in a country conquered from an enemy. The duke of Burgundy was exceedingly angry when these things came to his knowledge, as well from his love to his vassals as from the time that they had chosen for these misdeeds, when his country was afflicted with famine and mortality. CHAP. XVIII. LORD TALBOT, SIR THOMAS KIRIEL, AND OTHER ENGLISH CAPTAINS, CONQUER LONGUEVILLE, AND MANY MORE CASTLES, FROM THE FRENCH. In the month of May of this year, the lord Talbot, sir Thomas Kiriel, with other english captains, took the field with about eight hundred combatants, and marched to the castle of Longueville, in the possession of a party of La Hire's men; for of this castle and domain he called himself lord, in consequence of a gift made to him of it by king Charles, in the same manner, and on the same terms that Bertrand du Guesclin, that valiant warrior, formerly constable of France, had held it.