•ernffichiof the town, with the "management of their affairs both within and without, and they would fWear to him obedience and loyalty as com-pletely as to their lord. They likewife engaged to bring every one, how great foever he might be, under his obédience/ Philip, after hearing every thing they had to fay, made the following prudent reply : ' Gendemen, you require great things from me j and I fhould imagine you have not weighed the matter fo ma-turely as it ought to have been, when you offer me the government of Ghent. You fay, the affeftion your anceftors had for my father has been your great inducement : when he had performed for them every fervice in his power, they murdered him. If I fhould accept the government in the manner you requeft, and be' afterwards murdered, I fhall gain but a miferable recompence.* f Philip,' faid Peter du Bois, who caught at thefe words which feemed to make his choice doubtful, € what has paffed cannot now be amended : you will aft from the advice of your council, and by thus continuing you will ever be fo well advifed that all mankind fhall praifc you.' Philip anfwered * fI fhould never wifh to aft otherwife.* • • « They then elefted him ; and, condufting him to the market-place, he was there fworn into office. The mayors, fherifis and rulers of companies were alfo fworn to obey him. In this manner was Philip von Artaveld madefb-vereign of Ghent. He acqired great popularity at