veld. He colle&ed the rents, the dutieè on wines, and other taxes, belonging to the earl, though they were the earl's lawful revenue, in whatever part of the county of Flanders he might refide ; he raifed alfo extraordinary fubfidies, which he fpent and gave away, without rendering account to any one. When he faid he was in want of money, he was immediately believed—and well it was for them who did believe him—for it was perilous to contradift him ; and if he wiihed to bqrrow money of any of the citizens, there was no one that dared to refufe him. The ambaifadors from England, and who kept fuch honourablefiate at Valenciennes, as you have before heard, thought among themfelvès, that it would give their king great comfort and afliftance in what he was anxious to undertake, if they could get the aid of the Flemings, who at that time were ill with the king of France, and with the earl their lord. They confulted the earl of Hainault on the fubjeft ; who told them, that, in truth, it would \c the greateft fupport they could get ; but he did not fee how it could he obtained, unlefs they previoufly could win the friendihip of Jacob νοη Artaveld. They replied, that they would dire&ly do all in their power to obtain it, and foon after fet out • from Valenciennes for Flanders^ by three or four diffeient roads. One party of them went to Bruges, another to Ypres; but the largeft went to Ghent, where they fpent fucji fums, that gold and iilver feeihed to