When his companions before mentioned had conducted him to his hotel, each went home to his dinner, and immediately after returned to the ftreet before his houfe, where they remained making a noife and brawling, until he pleafed to come out and go round the town, to pafs his time and amufe himfelf ; and thus was he efcorted until he chofe to go to fupper. Each of thefe foldiers had four Flemifh groats a day, as wages, and for his expenfes, which he had paid to him very regularly every week. He had alfo in every town and caftlewick, through Flanders, ferjeants and foldiers in his pay, to execute his orders, and ferve him as fpies, tofind out if any were inclined to rebel againft him, and to give him information. The inftant he knew of any fuch being in a town, he was baniihed or killed without delay, and none were fo great as to be exempted, for fo early did he take fuch meafures to guard himfelf. At the fame time he baniihed all the mod powerful knights and efquires from Flanders, and fuch citizens from the principal towns, as he thought were in the leaft favourable to the earl ; feized one hajf of their rents, giving the other moiety for the dower of their wives and fupport of their children. Thofe that were baniihed, of which the number was very confiderable, refided for the molt part at St. Omer, and were called les avolez. To fpeak the truth, there never was in Flanders, or in any other country, count, duke, or prince, * who had fuch perfeft command as Jacob von Arta 1 3 veld.