many, more cfpecially by thofe who followed the profeflion of amis: for, to gain their favour, he refufed them nothing ; every thing was abandoned to them. I may be j&flted how tiie Ghent men were able to carry on this war ; and I will anfwer to the bell of my ability, according to the in-formation Lrçceiyed. They were iixmly, united among themfelves, and maintained the poor, each according to his means : thus, by being fo finrigr united, they were of great force: befides, Ghent, taken all together, is one of the ftrongeft towns in the world, provided Brabant) Zealand, and Hol-land, be not againtt it; but, in cafe thefe coun*-tries were leagued with Flanders, they would be (hut up, furrounded and ftarved. Thefe ' three countries, however, were never their enemies; fo that their warfare with the earl of Flanders was more ftrenuoufly carried on, and longer "con-tinued. - At the commencement of Philip von ArtâvèkTs government., the deacon* of the weavers'was ae-cufed of treafoh. tie was arretted and committed •to prifon. In ortler to know the truth of the aecufation, his houfe was searched, wherein Wais found fome saltpetre in powder. The deacon 'was beheaded, and dragged through* the town by the'rfiôulders, for a traitor, and to férve as ah example to others. • ; • • • The earl of Ftendets refolved to lay fiegè again to Ghetoit: he therefore ifttied - his fummôns tp a number of knights and (quires, and to the 'inha-bitants of theprmcipaltowns, -He-feint tp Mech-lin, from whence 4ie had many mM.- Hé Wfotfe ; : : • to 2