the country Inch of my gentlemen as they com-plained of, in compliance with their laws. I have too often opened my prifons, to furrender up mine and their own burgefles, whenever they folicited it I have loved and efteemed them more than any other of my fubjcAs ; and they have behaved ' to me quite the contrary, flain my bailiff, deftroyed the houfes of my people, driven away my officers, burnt the houfe in the world which I loved the mod, forced my towns to fide with them, mur-dered my knights in the town of Ypres : in fhort, they have afted fo wickedly towards me and my rights that I am tired of mentioning them, and wifti never to remember them ; but, whether I will or not, I cannot help doing lb.* c Ah, my lord/ replied the deputies, c do not think more of what has paflcd : you have pardon-ed us for all thofe evil deeds.' c That is true/ anfwered the earl, f and I do not * mean, by what I have juft faid, that in time to come you (hall fare the worfe for it. I only point out to you • the great cruelties and wickednefs which I have fuffered from the town of Ghent/ The earl was then foftened : fifing up, he made them rife alfo, and, calling to the lord de Ruife-Hers who was near him, faid, c Let them bring wine/ The deputation drank of it, and then re-tired to their lodgings, where they remained all night, for the earl ftaid there. On the morrow, fhey all rode together towards Ghent. CHAP. 155