toards of fixty thoufand Flemings, all well armed, and polled himfelf ilrongly qppofite to the French. Immediately after their arrival, the earl fent hie heralds to his coufin the duke of Normandy, to fay he was ready for battle, and that it would be a very great ihame, if fuch fine armies Ihould feparate without an engagement. The duke gave the herald for anfwer, that he would fummon his council, and confider of it. This council lafted fo long, that the herald returned without any anfwer. Three days afterwards the earl fent again to the duke, to know pofitively what his intentions and thofe of his army were. The duke replied, that he had not yet finally determined upon fighting, and could not therefore fix a day, adding, moreover, that the earl was too hafty. When this was told to the earl, he looked upon it only as an excufe for delay; he therefore Tent for all the commanders of his army, explained to .them his intentions and wifhes, and alfo the anfwers he had received, and defired to have their opinions' upon the fubjeil. They looked at each other : at laft the duke of Brabant, who was the principal commander, fpoke for all, and faid, that he objefted to throwing a bridge over the Scheld aiid fighting the French ; for, to his certain knowledge, the king of England would very foon pafs the fea, in order to befiege Tournay ; and he had promifed him, upon his faith and love, to give him every sud and affiftance in that enterprize. c Now,' added he, 6 if we fight the French, and fhould be unfortunate, he cannot have that fuccour he expedls from us; and, ihould