Their young carl, however,' who bad been edu-cated with the royal family of France, and who at the time was in that kingdom, would not agree to it, and declared frankly, that he would never take to wife, the daughter of him who had flain his father. On the other hand, duke John of Brabant was very eagerly trying to make a match between the carl and his daughter, apd promifed to obtain for bim the full enjoyment of Flanders, by fair or foul means. The duke alfo gave the king of France to understand, that, if the marriage took place, he would manage the Flemings, that they fhould attach themfelves to him, in preference to the king of England. Upon the ftrength of thefe promifes, the king of France confented to the marriage of the earl of Flanders with the duke-of Brabant's daughter. After the duke had obtained this confent, he fent meflengers to all the principal citizens of the great towns in Flanders, who coloured the union with fo many fpecious reafons, that the councils of the prin-cipal towns fent to the earl, and informed him that if he would come to Flanders, and follow their ad-vice, they would be his true friends, and would give up to him all royalties, rights, andjurifdiétions, in a greater degree than any earl had hitherto been pof-feffed of. The earl was advifed to go to Flanders, where he was joyfully received ; and the chief towns made him rich and handfome prefents. As foon as the king of England was informed of tbis he fent the earls of Northampton and Arundel, and lord Reginald Cobham, into Flanders; who managed 203 . ' '