in the affairs of the Catholic Church:
Du Guesclin, having completed his levies, led the army first to Avignon, where the pope thea resided, and demanded, sword in hand, an absolution for his soldiers, and the sum of 200,000 livres. The first was readily promised him; some more difficulty was made with regard to the second. “I believe that my fellows,” replied du Guesclin, “may make a shift to do without your absolution; but the money is absolutely necessary.” The pope then extorted from the inhabitants in the city and neighbourhood the sum of a hundred thousand livres, and offered it to du Guesclin. “It is not my purpose,” cried that generous warrior, ” to oppress the innocent people. The pope and his cardinals themselves can well spare me that sum”