Straightway they bore him to burial in Carcassone, celebrated the service at Saint-Nazaire. And those who know how to read may learn from his epitaph that he is a saint, a martyr destined to rise again, to flourish in unparalleled felicity, to have his place in the Kingdom. This according to the Canzon de la Crozada.
Montfort es mort! they sang in Toulouse. Es mort! Es mort!
Soon enough old Count Raymond followed his enemy, yet being excommunicate was denied the succor of religion. Forbidden burial in consecrated earth, he lay neglected outside the cemetery and was eaten by rats. Hospitalers some time later got his skull.
Anon, Honorius became pontiff, and it seemed to him that foxes were creeping into vineyards of the Lord. Thus he despatched Cardinal Romanus to France and the cardinal vigorously preached his message. All who were able to carry weapons should march against the tainted city of Toulouse. Prelates and laity responded. King Louis himself assumed the cross. However, King Louis would not proceed until he got letters from the pontiff that forbade the English under pain of excommunication to annoy his realm while he was absent on crusade. Then would he march against defiant Provenceaux.
The army assembled at Bourges on Ascension Day. Roger of Wendover declares that as it moved south along the Rhône it could have been taken for an army of castles in motion what with fifty thousand mounted knights and more sergeants than could be counted, all with glittering shields, accompanied by archbishops and bishops holding innumerable banners.
Whitsunday Eve they came to Avignon. King Louis requested leave to shorten their march by passing through, but the citizens would not open up. They said the king meant treachery. Then he was provoked and swore not to depart until Avignon lay subject at his feet. So with mangonels and crossbows and other devices he launched a furious assault. But the city was well defended, well equipped, giving back stone for stone, dart for dart, inflicting grievous damage. Numerous Franks went to sleep in Christ.
Moreover, the people of Avignon had stripped the countryside of grain, fruit, horses, swine, cattle, everything serviceable, and ploughed up their fields. Hence the Franks were obliged to look for nutriment. Pilgrims, sergeants, knights, God knows how many gave up the ghost for lack of sustenance to fill their bellies. If this were not enough, black flies crept through tents, pavilions, crept over spoons, plates, cups, and bloody flux tormented the living host. King Louis fretted with good reason because if he failed at his purpose he would be mocked. Therefore a huge attack was ordered. Now such a multitude of armored men crossed the bridge that, either from their weight or because these treacherous people undermined the arches, the bridge crumbled. Franks plunged groaning into the tumultuous stream, dozens, hundreds, bringing shouts of joy from the besieged.
And one day with the Franks at table, unprepared to fight, these watchful citizens sallied from the gate, rushed around killing as many as possible before scuttling back to the city. King Louis ordered bodies flung into the river on account of the smell. He ordered a trench dug between Avignon and the Frankish camp to prevent this happening again. Now the assembled prelates, having no better idea, declared excommunicate the citizens of Avignon. By this time good weather was nearly used up. Few in the army looked forward to cold winter rain.
King Louis thought to escape this unhappy condition with pestilence all around, so betook himself to the monastery at Montpensier. But here came Henry, count of Champagne, who had served forty days at the siege and therefore, by Frankish custom, asked leave to go home. King Louis would not give permission. Then said the count, having served those forty days he meant to go home if the king would like it or not. This roused King Louis to swear an oath that should the count go away in such fashion his territory would be ravaged by sword and fire. Whereupon the count, bursting with lust for the king’s wife, caused poison to be administered and in a little while Louis took sick as the potion worked through his vitals. So he died. Cardinal Romanus and his advisers thought it best to dissimulate. King Louis, said they, had fallen ill but in the judgment of physicians would recover. They preserved the husk of King Louis with salt, wrapped it in waxed linen that they tucked within the hide of a bull. His entrails they buried in the convent. Thus, experienced at cunning, they sought to reassure the army.
But finding themselves with no advantage and a dead sovereign on their hands, plus other hindrance, Cardinal Romanus despatched a message to Avignon requesting that twelve elders be sent out to discuss peace under guarantee of safe conduct. Twelve citizens emerged. Cardinal Romanus earnestly advised them to surrender, by which they could save their lives, properties, and liberties. They answered that they would not consent to live under Frankish dominion whose insolence and pride they had endured more than once. Cardinal Romanus requested leave to enter Avignon with his prelates so they might test the faith of inhabitants, vowing that he had pressed the siege merely for the benefit of their souls. Therefore, when oaths had been sworn on both sides, the cardinal with his prelates entered. But while the gates were open, as had been secretly arranged, Frankish soldiers rushed forward and got inside to capture the city.
Priests carted off the skin and
