wifeft and grcateft barons in France, of the hîgheft birth, being defcended from kings. His wife was filler german to Philip, whofe fpecial companion an . friend he had been in all his fortunes ; and for the fpace of three years he managed every thing ia France—fo that nothing was done without his knowledge. It happened afterward that king Philip took a violent hatred againil the lord Robert, on account of a fuit, which was brought before him, that regarded the county of Artois ; and the faid lord Robert was defirous of obtaining it by means of a letter that he produced, and which, by all accounts, was forged. Had he been arretted in the firil movements of the king's anger, he would infallibly have been put to death ; he therefore thought it prudent to quit the kingdom of France, and go to his nephew, earl John at Naraur. The king ordered hisfiller, wife of lord Robert, and her two fons, his nephews, John and Charles, to be arretted and ihut up in a clofe prifon, out of which he fwore they lhould never come as long as he lived j andfince that time, though many fpoke in their behalf, they had not greater liberty, for which he was afterward much blamed behind hi$ back. The king, in his warmth,fent to Raoul, bifhop of Liege, begging of him to challenge and make war upon the earl of Namur, if he did not put away the lord Robert from his court. . The biihop, who loved exceedingly the king-of France, and little refpetted his neighbours, did im^ mediately t