greatly încreafed againft them, that fonte of the barons and principal knights informed the lords of Hainault, that the archers and others of the commonalty of England, to the number, of fix thoufand, had entered into an agreement to maifacre and bunt them and their followers in their lodgings either by night or day, and there was no one on the part of the king, or of the barons, that could venture to aflift them.. The Hainaulters, therefore, had no other refource left than to ftand by each other, and to fell their lives as dparly as poffible. They made many prudent regulations for their conduô, were frequently obliged to lie on their arms, to confine themfejves to their quarters, and to have their armour ready, and their horfes always faddled. They were alfo obliged to keep detachments continually , on the watch in the fields and roads round the city, and to fend fcouts to the diftance of half a league, to fee if; thofe people, of whom they had received information, were coming, with orders, that, if they perceived any bodies in motion advancing towards the town, they were immediately to return to the detachments in the fields, in order that they might be quickly mounted, and colle&ed together under their own banner, at an appointed alarm-poft. They continued in the fuburbs four weeks in this diftrelfing fituation, and none, except a few of the great lords, who went to court to fee the king and his council, or to the entertainments tò hear the news, ventured to quit their quarters or their arms. If this unfortunate quarrel had not happened, they would have paffed their time very P lea 7-j