rcfidcncc of the Matthews, but found none, for they had all gone off.' They were fought for in every room throughout the houfes of the adjoining ftrectsi and, when they were convinced they were gone, John Lyon was much vexed. He gave up to his companions all their goods, when the houfrs were completely pillaged and razed to the ground, fo that no veftige remained, as if they had been traitors to the whole body of thf town. ' When they had done this deed, they retired to their homes ; nor was there à iheriff, or any other officer belonging to the carl or to the town, who faid they had a&ed wrong i indeed, at that time all were afraid to fay a word againft them : for the white hoods were fo numerous that none dared to provoke them, and they paraded the ftreets in large bodies without any oppofition. It was faid both within and without the town, that they were conne&ed with fome of the fliçriffs and rith men in Ghent, which was not unlikely ; for fuch a ruf-fianly crew would never have dared to flay fo noble a man as Roger d'Auterme, bailiff of Ghent, hold-ing the banner of the earl in his hand at the time, if they had' not depended on fome good and able fupporters in their wicked ads. They afterwards increafed fo much as to want no foreign aid, and became fo powerful that none were bold enough to oppofç any thing they thppght proper to under-take. Roger d'Auterme was carried away by the Friar Minors to their church, where he was by them buried. l j After U7