which was Anthony, bastard of Burgundy * with a strong force of well-tried men-at-arms, thinking to surprise him; but he had received intelligence of their coming, and advanced out to meet them. A sharp engagement took place, when they were defeated, with the loss of full three thousand men, and the cutler and several of the Ghent men were taken. The bastard sent them to his father the duke, who had them all hanged or strangled, because they would not ask his pardon; and such was their obstinate hatred to him, that although they were promised mercy if they would ask it, they refused. This was surely a wonderful sign of obstinacy!

Those who had escaped from this battle, to the amount of two thousand, fled to Moerbeke, wherein was a large company of their townsmen, then besieged by the Hollanders, ignorant of this defeat at Hulst. On seeing such numbers approach, the Hollanders drew up in battle-array, and attacked them with such effect with their cross-bows that many were slain. In the mean time the bastard, who had pursued them, now came up; and they were so severely handled that of the two thousand, few, if any, escaped death or being made prisoners. The garrison of Moerbeke, witnessing the discomfiture of their countrymen, abandoned the town and fled to Ghent; so that when sir Anthony de Bourgogne and the Hollanders were preparing to attack the intrenchments, they found them empty and entered the place without resistance, which they plundered of everything worth taking away, and then set the town on fire.

The duke of Burgundy was at this time at a large village called Hoiguemustret, in the country of Waes. The French ambassadors found him there on their return from Ghent, and told him all they had seen and heard in that town; on which the duke swore that he would never make peace with them until they should submit unconditionally; and that if they would not do so by fair means he would force them to it, or die in the attempt. Without longer delay he departed for Axel, which he conquered, and the whole of the country of Waes, and thence he approached Ghent, and fixed his quarters at a place called Longpont, not far from the town. When those in Ghent saw this, they sent to the French ambassadors to request them to obtain passports from the duke, for a deputation to wait on him to propose articles for a peace.

The good duke, at the request of the ambassadors, and in compliment to the king of France, granted passports, but told the messengers from Ghent that he would never conclude any treaty with them until they had submitted themselves and their town to his will. While this was passing, the duke's army made daily excursions to the gates of Ghent, burning and destroying houses, mills, and farms around, without mercy. In addition to these miseries there raged in Ghent an epidemical disorder, which carried off such numbers that it was terrible to hear of it: insomuch that those who remained, fearful of worse happening to them, sent to solicit the ambassadors to return to their town, which they did,— and, having assembled in the market-place, displayed the passports from their lord, and desired that all who wished for peace would stand apart, and the others on the contrary side. This was done, and the party for peace amounted to only seven thousand, while those on the opposite side were upwards of twelve thousand. The ambassadors, observing so great a difference, desired them to assemble again on the morrow, when they would endeavour to bring about an agreement between them; but on the morrow only those who wished for peace appeared. They desired that the ambassadors would return to the duke with a deputation from them, to endeavour to mediate a peace by any possible means. The ambassadors so far prevailed that the duke consented to a truce of six weeks, on condition that the men of Ghent would deliver to him good and sufficient hostages (if during this term peace could not be effected), to indemnify him for the loss he should incur by disbanding his army and the expense of raising another, and for the due payment of the garrisons he should leave round Ghent, and in Courtray, Oudenarde, Alost, and Dendermonde, during these six weeks. It was also stipulated, that no provision should enter Ghent in the mean time, but that what long line of descendants. See the genealogical tables of Pontus Heuterus.

Anthony, second of the illegitimate sons of duke Philip, by Jolante de Presle, was lord of Beveren, and married Mary de Viefville, by whom he had two sons, the lords of Vere and of Chapelle, and from these followed a

Hoiguemustre. Q. Waesmustre ?

was already therein must supply their wants; nor was anything to enter the principal towns of Flanders without leave first had at the gates.

It was agreed that the conferences for peace should be holden at Lille, and that the deputies from Ghent should not amount to more than fifty. These preliminaries being settled, the truce was proclaimed throughout the duke's army; and he then gave permission for his men-at-arms to return to the places they had come from, excepting such as he had left in garrison in the towns aforesaid. The duke went to Brussels, and his ministers to Lille. The ambassadors from France sent a herald to proclaim the truce in Ghent; but as his attendant was dressed in a surcoat of the arms of the duke, namely, the cross of St. Andrew, he was seized by the populace, as he was leading his horses to water, and instantly hanged, out of pique to the duke, and by way of revenge for the death of the cutler. The herald returned in safety, but very much frightened.

CHAPTER

THE

XLVII.-THE ARTICLES PROPOSED BY THE AMBASSADORS FROM FRANCE AS
GROUNDWORK FOR A TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN THE MEN OF GHENT AND

THEIR LORD, BUT WHICH ARE NOT AGREED TO BY THOSE IN GHENT.

Ox the 22d day of July, in the year 1452, the men of Ghent sent a deputation of fifty commissioners to Lille to treat of a peace with the ministers of the duke of Burgundy and the ambassadors from France: they were also accompanied by master John de Poupincourt, advocate in the parliament. The duke refused at first to attend the conferences, and each party delivered in writing to the ambassadors their separate proposals; but at the entreaty of the ambassadors and his ministers the duke set out from Brussels, and arrived at Lille on the 27th of August. When the deputies saw that the time for the expiration of the truce was near at hand, they were afraid to remain longer, and returned to Ghent, leaving behind only two heralds and an interpreter. Notwithstanding the departure of the deputies, the French ambassadors soon after gave judgment respecting their dissensions with the duke, and sentenced the men of Ghent to perform the following articles before they obtained peace. They were ordered, in the first place, to close up the gate by which they had marched out to besiege Oudenarde once every week, on the same day they passed it.—Item, the gate by which they had marched to the battle of Rupelmonde was to be shut up for ever.-Item, they were to lay aside their white hoods, as having been their badge of rebellion.—Item, foreign merchants should no longer be amenable to the bye-laws of Ghent, but only to those of the town and banlieue.-Item, no one should be in future banished the town without the cause being specified, which had not been done before.-Item, as to the new regulation of the laws, four noble persons, officers of the duke, and four of the municipality, shall be selected for this purpose; and whereas formerly four-and-twenty persons formed the municipality, twelve of whom were always chosen from the company of weavers,—this shall now be abolished.

:

Item, whereas, when any troubles existed in the town, the banners of the trades were displayed, and the populace assembled in the market-place it is ordained that such proceedings be abolished, and that the banners be placed in a coffer fastened with five locks,one key shall be delivered to the bailiff of Ghent,—the first sheriff shall have another,—the high deacon of trades the third,-and the other two shall be given in charge to two discreet persons elected by the townsmen,—and there shall be no more assembling in the marketplace. Item, neither the sheriffs nor any gentleman in Ghent shall issue public mandates in their names. Item, the whole of the municipality, the deacons, governors, and two thousand of the commonalty, shall advance half a league out of the town, clad only in their shirts, and humbly on their knees beg pardon of their lord, saying, that they had wickedly and wrongfully made war against him their lord, for which they crave his mercy.-Item, should any of the duke's officers henceforth misbehave, his offence was not to be cognizable by the municipality, but it must be referred to their lord and his council.

Item, whereas formerly the municipality of Ghent had usually extended their government over the country of Waes, Alost, Dendermonde, and Oudenarde,-it was ordered that the

VOL. II.

P

said ambassadors should, within the year, make a reformation, either by new ordinances or by resigning their jurisdiction altogether.-Item, to satisfy their lord for his expenses in this war, they were to pay him two hundred and fifty thousand riddes*.

Such was the sentence of the ambassadors on those of Ghent,-who, however, notwithstanding their promises, refused absolutely to abide by it.

CHAPTER XLVIII. THE GHENT MEN RECOMMENCE THE WAR AGAINST THEIR LORD, AND BURN HULST.-A FRENCH HERALD ESCAPES FROM GHENT.

THE two heralds and their interpreter returned from Lille to Ghent, and the proposed articles for a peace with the duke of Burgundy were publicly read to the people. Great murmurings arose; and they said that their lord was too hard upon them, and that the conditions were not to be borne. They separated, however, without declaring positively against them, nor yet assenting to them, and in this state they remained for about a fortnight.

During this time, some of the most turbulent assembled in numbers, and chose for their captain a wicked fellow called the bastard of Blanc-Estain,-and they styled themselves Companions of the Verde Tente. Having well armed themselves, they sallied forth out of Ghent one night, and advanced to Hulst, a large village that had surrendered to the duke. On their arrival, they lighted torches and brands to deceive the inhabitants, and make them believe they intended to storm the place on that side, who indeed hastened thither in a body to defend themselves; but in the mean time these cunning rogues gained an entrance, without opposition, on the opposite side, and put to death all they met. They plundered the town completely, set it on fire, and returned with their booty to Ghent.

The ambassadors from the king of France were impatiently waiting at Lille, to know whether the Ghent men would abide by the articles of peace. Wondering they received no intelligence from Ghent, they sent thither a herald, with letters to the principal inhabitants, to learn their will. The herald, on coming to his lodgings, entreated his host to assist him in the delivering of his letters; but the host had compassion on him, and told him, if he valued his life, not to mention to any one the cause of his coming, for, were it known, he would infallibly be put to death. He would not suffer him to quit his chamber the whole day, and, on the morrow, gave him his servant to escort him to the gates, bidding him say to the porters, if any questions were asked him, that he was a French merchant returning to Antwerp; and, for better security, made him put on his coat the wrong side outward. The herald, very much alarmed, believed all his host had said, and set out very early, before the gates were opened. On coming to them, he was asked who he was, and replied, a French merchant returning to Antwerp. They asked for something to drink; and, as he was untying his purse, the gates were opened; on seeing this, he put spurs to his horse, and galloped through without paying anything, but he did not think himself safe until he was arrived at Lille. He related to the ambassadors all that had passed, who, finding that the Ghent men would not adhere to their promises, took leave of the duke and returned to king Charles, carrying with them six thousand golden riddes, which the noble duke Philip had presented to them for their trouble.

The duke was ignorant of the capture of Hulst, until the Ghent men had taken and burned Axel. They would have gained Alost, had not sir Anthony de Wissoc, the governor for the duke, made so gallant a defence that they were repulsed. On their return to Ghent, they burned all the villages that acknowledged the duke's government, and put men, women, and children to death without mercy.

Riddes-worth 5s. in Flanders, 3s. in Gueldres.

CHAPTER XLIX. THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY RAISES A LARGE ARMY TO COMBAT THE GHENT MEN, WHO BURN HARLEBECK A LARGE VILLAGE NEAR COURTRAY.-OTHER EVENTS OF THIS WAR.

WHILE the duke of Burgundy, earl of Flanders, was waiting at Lille the answer from Ghent, he was informed of the loss of Hulst and Axel, and instantly assembled his army, with the addition of a large reinforcement from Burgundy; for he had ordered the lord de Beaumont, marshal of Burgundy, to join him. Before this army could be ready to take the field, a large body sallied out of Ghent, on the 23rd of September, for Harlebeck, a considerable village near to Courtray, which they set on fire, killing the inhabitants indiscriminately, without regard to age or sex.

The duke, on hearing this, instantly despatched his nephew, Adolphus of Cleves, with a handsome force of men-at-arms and archers, to Courtray. On his arrival, he found every one in the utmost alarm, although the Ghent men were returned home. When the duke's army was ready, he sent to Courtray the marshal of Burgundy as commander-in-chief. Sir Anthony, the bastard, was ordered to Dendermonde,-sir Simon and sir James de Lalain were sent to Oudenarde,―sir Anthony de Wissoc to Alost,-and sir Adolphus of Cleves returned to the duke at Lille. The marshal, on his arrival at Courtray, caused it to be proclaimed throughout the flat countries, that all who were inclined to the duke's party should carry their effects to strong places for their security, and more especially those who were within five leagues of Ghent. The consequence was, that the greater part withdrew with their effects to Ghent. The marshal then ordered all the prisoners from Ghent to be hanged. On the other hand, the Ghent men showed mercy to none, nor would they accept of any ransom, however great the sum offered, so deadly was this warfare now become,— but more on the side of Ghent than on that of the duke.

The marshal, learning that all the provision and wealth of the low countries had been carried into Ghent, gave orders for all the villages within five leagues of Ghent, and even as far as that town, to be burned, more particularly such as were on the roads leading to or from it; and if the Picards and Burgundians left any undestroyed, the Ghent men burned them, so that the greatest desolation afflicted all Flanders. Among other acts, sir James de Lalain made an inroad to the walls of Ghent, burned two of their mills, and carried off to Oudenarde fifteen waggons laden with corn, that were going to Ghent, for this time no sally was made against him. At another time, the marshal of Burgundy marched to Ghent, with the intent of combating the Ghent men, if they would come out, but they refused. He then returned to Poulcres, a strong castle, took the lower court by storm, and then set it on fire, because the garrison had retreated into the castle, which was too strong to be then attempted, and returned to Courtray.

On the 25th of October, sir Anthony bastard of Burgundy marched from Dendermonde, together with the garrison of Alost, which he had summoned to join him, toward Ghent, having despatched thirty of his best-mounted horsemen to show themselves before the gates and endeavour to entice the garrison to come out. The Ghent men, having had intelligence of sir Anthony's coming, were ready to sally forth, and attacked these thirty men so hardly that they were astonished. With the Ghent men were some English adventurers, who had come thither to seek fame and wealth, and were on horseback: the men of Ghent, in great numbers, were on foot, and pushed forward with such speed that the bastard was surprised at seeing them so near him. In this difficulty, he earnestly entreated his men to dismount; but, in spite of his orders and entreaties, only two men-at-arms dismounted, and three archers. I know not how it happened, but they were panic-struck, and all fled, so that with great difficulty the two men-at-arms were remounted, but the three archers were killed. The bastard, vexed to the soul, collected twenty of his men, and remained in the rear of his runaways, and saved them from further loss. It is, however, possible that this flight saved all their lives; for the Ghent men, informed, as I have said, of their intent, had * Harlebeck, on the Lys, four leagues N.E. from Courtray.

assembled another body of men, who were to sally from a different gate, and destroy all the bridges the Picards would have to repass, and thus inclose them between the two divisions so that none could escape. Thus did this misfortune preserve from death sir Anthony and all his men, excepting the three archers.

CHAPTER L. THE MARSHAL OF BURGUNDY BURNS THE SMALL TOWN OF ECKELOO.THE GHENT MEN ARE DEFEATED BEFORE ALOST, WHICH THEY INTENDED TO BESIEGE. THE garrisons in Courtray and Oudenarde, knowing that there was a strong company of Ghent men in Eckeloo, which is a considerable village, three leagues from Ghent, assembled under the command of the marshal and sir James de Lalain, and marched thither in handsome array. The Ghent men no sooner saw them approach than they fled into the wood that was hard by. All could not escape, so that upwards of forty were left dead in the village. The place was then burned, because the inhabitants would not desist from carrying provisions to Ghent, nor from ringing the alarum-bell whenever they perceived any Burgundians appear. It was for this that all the villages five leagues round were set on fire, and such as the Picards left, the Ghent men burned themselves. On the 13th of November, the Ghent men, having heard that sir Anthony de Wissoc, governor of Alost, was gone into Artois, assembled to the amount of twenty thousand on foot, under the conduct of a few English on horseback, and marched to lay siege to Alost. Sir Anthony the bastard and sir Francis the Arragonian had early intelligence of this at Dendermonde; and by orders of the bastard, sir Francis threw himself into Alost with three hundred hardy combatants. Soon afterward, the Ghent men appeared to commence their siege; but sir Francis, like a valiant knight, sallied forth with all he could collect, leaving a sufficient garrison in the town, and fell on the Ghent men so vigorously that he soon threw them into disorder, and they wheeled about and fled toward Ghent. All were not so fortunate, for there remained dead on the field eighteen English and seventeen Ghent men; and had it not been for night coming on so soon, many more would have been slain.

On the ensuing Saturday, the marshal of Burgundy advanced to the gates of Ghent, but none issued forth to combat him. On his return, twelve Picardy archers remained in his rear, with the intent of plundering whatever they could find. Having crossed a small bridge, they saw no one; but they had not advanced far before they perceived, right before them, a large body of the enemy, and some English with them. They turned about, intending to retreat, but they saw the bridge covered with a number of peasants waiting for them. On this they took heart, thinking it better to die honourably than be taken and hanged: dismounting, they fastened their horses together, and then made such good use of their bows that no Ghent man was bold enough to approach them. One of the English couched his lance, and advanced to the charge, thinking to put them into disorder; but they instantly opened their ranks for him to pass through, and then shot so briskly that his horse was wounded in several places, and he was very glad to get out of their reach. The Picards now blew their horns, as if their friends were within hearing, which frightened the Ghent men so much that they instantly ran off for their town; and the twelve archers, looking toward the bridge, saw no one, for the peasants had fled to the woods. They then remounted their horses, and returned to their companions in safety, having gained much honour by their defence against such numbers.

Another company of Picards made an excursion to Ghent, and took some of the Companions of the Verde Tente, and one of their captains, whose body was quartered, and the rest hanged.