countries whither they reforted ; by "robbing wher-ever they could find any thing ; by violating women, both young and old, without pity ; and by killing men, women and children without mercy, who had done no ill to them ; for he was reckoned the braveft, and mod honored, who could boaft of the moft villainous a&ions. The pope and the cardinals had therefore m croifade publicly preached. They abfolved from every crime and fin all thofe who fhould take the crofs, and voluntarily give themfelves up to deftrof thefe " wretches. The cardinals eie&ed the lord Peter de Monftier, cardinal d* Arras, by fame called cardinal d'Oftia, to be the chief of this croifade } who, upon his nomination, immediately left Avig-non, and went to Carpentras, feven leagues diftant, where he fixed his quarters. He retained all fol-diers, and others, who were defirous of faving their fouls, and of gaining the forefaid pardons : but he would not give them any pay, which caufed many of them to depart and go into Lombardy ; others returned to their own countries, and fome joined thefe wicked companies, which were daily increafing. They divided themfelves- into feveral companies, ever each of which they nominated captains, and took up their quarters in different places. Thus they haraffed the pope, the cardinals and the mer-chants in the neighbourhood of Avignon, and did a, great deal of mifchief until the fummer was far ac|-vanced of the year 1361. It happened that thé pope and cardinals call their eyes ypon a very accomplifhed knight and good war- 89