The earl of Flanders, who wis returned to his own country, mod among his own people, was con-tinually hawking, and pretended that this Englilh . alliance was perfectly agreeable to him. The Flem-ings'believed all he faid, and did not keep fo ftrict a guard upon him as before : but they were not then acquainted with the difpofition of their lord; for, however much he might diflemble in his out-ward behaviour, he was in his heart devoted to the French. It happened one day, in the fame week that he was to efpoufe the Englilh princefs, he went out a hawking : the falconer _ fled his hawk at a heron, and the earl did the fame with his : the two hawks purfued their game, and the earl galloped off, as if. following them, crying, € Hoye, hoye/ When he was at fome diltance from his keepers/and in the open fields, he ftuck fpurs into his horfe, and made fuch fpeed that he was foon out of fight : he did jiot flop until he was got into Artois, where he was fafe. He then went to king Philip in France, and related • to him and his nobles his adventures, who told him he had aëled wifely ; but the Englilh, on the contrary, accufed him of betraying and deceiving them. The king of England, neverthelefs, did not fail for this, to cultivate the friendship of the Flemings; for he knew that what had happened was not through their confent, but, on the contrary, that they were very touch enraged at it ; fo he was immediately fatisfied with the excufes they made him on the 7 occafion. • CHAP.