The councils of the principal town* heard with attention the propofals and promifes the duke of Brabant, their neighbour, made them. They knew their young lord was not within their power, but ubder the direélion of the king of France and the lady his mother,* and that his heart was entirely French. Upon mature confederation' therefore, they thought, that as the duke of Brabant was a very powerful priuce, and of great enterprife, it would be much, more advantageous to conclude a match with him than with any one elfe; for by it they would enjoy peace, and have their lord again among them, which they very much defired. The bufinefs was fo well arranged that the young earl of Flanders was brought to theocity of Arras, whi-ther the duke of Brabant fent his eldeft fon, the lord Godfrey earl of Mons, the earl of Los, and all his council. The principal towns of Flanders fent thither alfo their magifirates. Many confe-rences were held ; and, the young earl and his countrymen engaged for his marriage with the daughter of the duke of Brabant, provided it were agreeable to the church. Tbis had been' already fecured, and the difpenfation from the pope was arrived. Not long after this, the young earl came to Flanders, where all due homage was paid him; and greater powers were granted to him than even his father, or any of his predeceifors had enjoyed. ' - The earl married tbe duke's daughter ; and, by the marriage-articles, the towns of Mechlin and Antwerp were to revert to the earl of Flanders, after the death of tyeiluke; big tlfb treaty was fo . fecretly • • 251 *