for they wifhed to furprife the knights in their beds. They began their march ; but fome of the country people, who had heard of this intention of the Flem-ings, informed the guards of it, faying, f Be fure you keep a ftrift and good guard ; for a large body of the menof Ghent, who have been benighted, are lying hard by here, and we know what they iatend p do.* ' ' The guard at the gate related this to their cap-tain, who was a knight from Holland, called iir Thierry de Bredoro : on receiving which inteiii-~ gence, he ftrengthened his guard, and fent informa-tion of it to all the knights lodged in the caftie and in the different houfes. Immediately on the break of day, the Flemings advanced by land and in their boats, well prepared for an inftant attack. When thofe in the caftie and town faw them approach, they founded their trumpets to alarm every one, the greater part of the knights and fquires being already armed. * The earl of Flanders, who flept in the caftle, heard of the march of the Flemings, and that they had commenced the attack ; on which he inftantly rofe, armed himfelf, and fallied forth from the caftie, his banner difplayed before him. At this time, there were in the town, fir Gôfluin de Wrle great bailiff of Flanders, the lord de Gau, fir Ge-rard de Rafenghien, fir Philip de Mamines, fir Philip de Rungi, a Burgundian, and others. All thefe knights advanced to meet the banner of the earl, and then they marched under it to the aflault, Which was already begun in a feverc and horrible manners 137