and ter council, departed from Brufifels, and re-turned to their mm and carriages, which were wailing i» them, and then continued theif road to Ghent. ' When the mewn arrived that their people were returning, and bringing with them fix hundred! cart-loads of provifion, ef which they were in fuch great want, they were highly delighted : thefe provifiohs, however, from Liege were not fafficient txmaintain the town fifteen days; but to thofe who are comforttefe a little thing gives* hope;. * They made a numerous procefflon to meet this _ convoy, and, by way of humbling themfelves, they fell on their knees when they met it, and with uplifted hands, feid to the merchants andE drivers,—* Ah, good people, you do an act of great charity : you bring comfort to the lower ckfles in Ghent, who would not have had where-withal to eat, if you had not come. Let us firft give our thanks and praifes to God, and* then to you/ In this manner were the provifions attended to the market-place* and there unloaded : they were theiL delivered out in (mall propor-tions to thofe. who were in the greateft wftnt; and five thoufand men were ordered to arm themfelves, and to efcort back thefe carts as far as Brabant, and out of all danger. The earl of Flanders, who refided at Bruges, had information of all this, and how Ghent was fo much ftraitened that it could not hold out for any 75