thus we ihall be abfolved, and at liberty to go with you wherever you pleafe.' The king fummoned his council, for he was loth to take the title and arms of France, feeing that at prefent hè had not conquered any part of that kingdom, and it was uncertain whether he ever îhould : on the other hand, he was unwilling to lofe the aid and afliftance of the Flemings, who could be of greater fervice to him than any others at that period. He confulted, therefore, with the lords of the Empire, the lord Robert d'Artois, and his moil privy counfellors, who, after having duly weighed the good and bad, advifed him to make for anfwer to the Flemings, that if they would engage, under their feals, to the agreement of aiding him to carry on the war, he would willingly comply with their conditions, and would fwear to affili them in the recovery of Lille, Douay, and Bethune ; to which they willingly confented. A day wasfixed for them, to meet at Ghent, where the king and the greater part of the lords of theEmpire,and in general the councils from the different towns in Flanders affembled. The above-mentioned propofals and anfwer s were then repeated, fworn to, and fealed ; and the king of England bore the arms of France, quartering them with thofe of England : he alfo took the title of king of France from that day forward, and maintained it, until he laid it afide by a certain agreement, as will be hereafter related in this book. At this conference held at Ghent, the lords engaged the fummer enfuing to make an a&ive war in-France, and promifed to befiege the city of Tournay. ι The