•Sfc» - CHAP, xxvrif. JACOB VON ARTAVELD GOVERNS ALL FLANÙERS; •pvURÏNG thefe times of which I am fpeaking, there were great diflenfions. between the earl of Flanders and the Flemings ; for they would not obey him; nor could he venture to remain in Flanders without great danger to himfelf. There was in Ghent a man that had formerly been a brewer of metheglin, called Jacob von Artaveld, who had gained fo much popular favour and power over the Flemings, that every thing was done according to his will. He commanded in all Flanders, frçm one end to the other, with fuch authority, that no one dared to contradiâ his orders. Whenever he went out into the city of Ghent, he was attended by three or four fcore armed men on foot, among whom were two or three that were in his fecrets j if he met any man, whom he hated or fufpefted, he was inilantly killed ; for he had ordered thofe who were in his confidence to remark whenever he îhould make a particular fign on meeting any perfon, and to murder him direôly without fail, or waiting further orders, of whatever rank he might be. This happened very frequently ; fo that many principal men were killed ; and he was fo dreaded, that/no one dared to fpeak againft his actions, or fcarce to contradift him, but all were forced to entertain him handfomely. When