fquires from Hainaulty Artois and Flanders^ who had come .to ferve under him. " As foon at. the ci* tizens of Ypres learnt that the earl was oh hisS march thither with ftich a force, they were greatly alarmed ; and the principal and richeft inhabitants* held a council, in which they refolvedto open their gates, and go out to meet him, with offers; to re-place themfelves under his obedience* trufting m Ids mercy. * It was well known to him tjiat they* had allied themfelves with Ghent through fear of the lower ranks, fuch as weavers, fullers and other; ill-intentioned people of the town : they befides de-pended on his kind and merciful character for their pardoni . • • - • As they, had refolved, fo did they execute ; and upwards of three hundred |n. a company went out of the town, carrying the keys of the gates with them. On meeting the earl of Flanders, they fell on their knees, ^and begged for mercy, faying, that they perfonally, and the whole town, refigned themfelves to his will. The earl took pity on them* made them fife, and granted them his pardon. • He entered the^town of Ypres with his whole army, and there remained for three weeks, fending back thofe of the Franc and of Bruges to their feveral rowns. During his re-fidence in Ypres, he had upwards of feven-hundred weavers and fullers beheaded, and ail thofe who had been any way concernai in admitting John Lyon and the Ghent men into the town, who had flain the knights and men at arms whom he had : ' ' U % fqit 89»