One of the grim truths of medieval warfare, and the Hundred Years' War in particular, is that the captains sentenced to death were not necessarily condemned for their atrocities; on the contrary, those who served princes and overlords were often shielded by their masters because they were essential for commanding the troops. In reality, most condemnations stemmed from political reasons: overstepping the bounds of royal obedience. Refusing to submit to royal authority could prove fatal for any captain or in fact anyone. In 1391, the notorious mercenary captain Mérigot Marchès, who had distinguished himself over two decades by plundering the Limousin and Auvergne regions, was tried and sentenced to death, not so much for his depredations as for having fought on the English side. Consequently, his execution involved a humiliating judicial ritual. He was first dragged on a hurdle and then transported in a cart, a mark of infamy, through the streets of Paris to the royal pillory at Les Halles, where the list of his crimes was read aloud. After his beheading, his head was impaled on a spear atop the scaffold, and his four limbs were severed and hung at the city's four main gates. The remainder of his body was placed in a sack to be hung from the gallows at Montfaucon. There is, however, a major limitation when it comes to public order. This is illustrated by the case of Dry Devil, a bandit leader, mercenary captain, active in Bohemia Kingdom. He was arrested in 1407 by King Wenceslas IV for dozens of criminal acts, including looting, robbery, arson, and extortion, too numerous to list. Yet, he was not even sentenced to death and was released after a mere few months.