They then directed their march to the country of Aussois[21], and toward Franckfort, taking and ransoming many small castles and large monasteries. While they were thus employed in wasting the country, the Germans assembled in great bodies to oppose and repulse them. They first ordered the farmers and peasants to retire into the strong castles and great towns with their corn and provisions,--and then made war on the French whenever they could do it advantageously, or when they went out to forage in small parties. In this manner they destroyed numbers, and always refused to accept a challenge for a general battle, although required by the French to name a day for a combat. The French, therefore, seeing their numbers daily lessened, while the enemy were increasing, retreated from Germany toward Burgundy, doing great mischiefs, wherever they passed, and thence went into the Nivernois. Continuing their wicked conduct in those parts, they retreated, after a short stay, into Auvergne. Their army was now increased by evil-disposed persons, and vagabonds, to the amount of ten thousand men: and they spared no person noble or not, nor any towns, although dependant on the king of France, or on the princes of his blood and alliance,--all were equally despoiled. No remedy could be applied to these evils, on account of their great numbers,--and they were called in all countries through which they passed, 'Skinners,' as has been before mentioned. The whole kingdom suffered intolerable hardships by this army, in addition to famine and pestilence. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 21: The country of Aussois is comprehended in the duchy of Burgundy.--See Martiniere's Geographical Dictionary.] CHAP. XXIV. THE COUNT D'ESTAMPES RECOVERS THE CASTLE OF ROULLET FROM THE MEN OF THE LORD DE MOY.--OTHER MATTERS. Prior to this melancholy famine, the men of the lord de Moy, in the Beauvoisis, gained the castle of Roullet (two leagues distant from Mondidier) from those of Guy de Roye, who had the guard of it, and made war against Mondidier and the country around. As this district was within the government of the count d'Estampes, and under his charge, he detached a body of men under the command of some of his captains--namely, Waleran de Moreul, Guy de Roye, and others--against this castle of Roullet, who attacked it so sharply that it was surrendered unconditionally to the will of the count d'Estampes, who hanged from twenty to thirty of the garrison, and again placed it under the guard of Guy de Roye. The lord de Moy, who was governor of Clermont, from vexation at this loss, carryed on a severer war than before on Mondidier, which made it necessary to post garrisons of men at arms in all the towns and castles round to oppose it. Thus did the country suffer greater hardships from both parties than before peace was concluded, as each destroyed it at their pleasure.