m John Barbé. Gilbert Matthew and his brothers were conne&ed by blood tô one of* thefe families, and John Lyon, by fimilar ties, to the other. This hatred was fot a long time noupfhed in fecret, though they foiHetirties fpoke, and evert cat and drank with each other j and Gilbert made more of this connexion than John Lyon did. Gilbert, without ftriking a blow, bethought himfelf of a cunning contrivance. The earl of Flanders refided fometimes tt Ghent : Gilbert, during thèfe refidénces, got acquainted with one of the earl'* chamberlains, who was at* tached to his perfon, and faid to him ; f If my lord of Flanders pleafed, • he might gain, every year, a handfome revenue from the pilots, who now pay nothing 11 it might fye levied on the foreign trade, provided John Lyon, who is deNacon of the pilots," would acquit himfelf honeftly/ The chamberlain" faid he would inform the earl of it, which he did. The earl (like other great lords, who naturally wifh for gain, and Who do not forefce the cortfequences, buc#only feek to get the money into their hands) told his chamberlain to bring, Gilbert Matthew to him, ahd he would hear what he had to fay. Gilbert was introduced, and, in ronverfation, made ufe of fuch arguments as appeared reafonajble to the earl, who replied, c It is wefj : let it be fo/ « John Lyon was immediately called into the apart-ment*, in prefence of Gilbert Matthew, quite igno-rant of what had paiTed, when the earl opened the bufinefs to him, and added, c John, if you choofe, *we may gain much wealth by this fcheme.' • " John