liberal to him in promises, one of which was that he would
place in his hands all the strong towns of Burgundy that
belonged to the estate of the Prince of Orange, his grand-
father, and which Duke Charles had forestalled.
334 ANNALS OF A FORTRESS.
But when the Seigneur de Craon had taken possession
of these places he would not give them up, notwithstand-
ing the demands made upon him by the Prince, and the
apparent orders of King Louis XI.
The marriage between the daughter of Charles the
Bold, sole heiress of his domains, and Maximilian, Duke
of Austria, took place in the meantime. The latter pro-
ceeded to recover possession of the duchy of Burgundy,
and had a conference with the Prince of Orange, exas-
perated at the non-fulfilment of the promises made him ;
while the province was soon to a large extent roused
against the French, whom the Seigneur de Craon, eager
for gain, and by no means faithful in accomplishing his
engagements, rendered detestable.
The Seigneur de Craon had left in the town of La Roche-
Pont only a somewhat feeble garrison. At the instigation
of the agents of Maximilian, who was filling the country
with emissaries, the inhabitants barricaded themselves one
evening in the streets, and attacked the French posts.
The latter, small in number, and indifferently commanded,
took refuge in the castle after having lost some soldiers.
The castle was ill supplied with provisions and munitions.
