left Bruges with a numerous army'to lay-fiege to Ghent, and fixed his quarters at a place called k Bricte. Sir Robert de Namur came thither *o ferve hïfcfc with a large body of men at arms, according to his letters and orders ; but fir William de Namur could not come, for he was at the rime in Francer with the king and duke of Burgundy. It was about the feaft of the decollation of Sa» John that the fiege of Ghent was commenced. Sir Walter, lord of Anghien, was marfhal of the army of Flanders : he was young, bold, enterprifing, and fearlefs of whatever dangers or perHt might befal him. Notwithstanding the earl of Flanders was before Ghent with fo numerous an army, he could' noc prevent the town from having two of three gates open, by which means all ibits of provifion entered without danger. , The Brabanters and Liégeois were very favourable to them, mwe lptftictlarty the citizens of Brufiels. The Liégeois wrote to them to keep up their ipirits,—f Good men of Ghent, we are well aware that at this prefent you have enough to do | that you ane hard puttied by the earl your lord, and by the gentry and the reft of the country, which we are extremely ferry for: know, that if you were only five or fix leagues from #w frontiers, wc would iend that fuccoti? which ought to be given to good brothers, friends and neighbours ; but you are too far from us, an4 the country of Brabant lies between, which is th$ caufe that prevents us. Now, if you ihould be bo* U 3 ficged 293