any length of time. You may imagine he was •• not very much vexed at their poverty, any more • than thofe of his council, who would, with plea- -fure, have feen the town of Ghent'deftroyed, • Gilbert Matthew and his brothers, the deacon of fmail trades of Ghent, and the provoft of Harlebecque, were in high fpirits at what they beard. All the events happened in Lent, during the months of March and April 1382*. The earl of Flanders determined to lay fiege to Ghent once ' more, but with a much fuperior army to what-he had hitherto brought againft it ; for he de-dared he would invade the Quatre Metiers, and burn and deftroy them, as they had been too ac-tive in affifting Ghent. The earl therefore fig-nified his intentions to all the principal towns in Flanders, that they might be ready in time. Immediately after the proceffion at Bruges, he was to march from thence, to lay fiege to Ghent and deftroy it. He wrote alfo to thofe knights and fquires who wrere dependant on him in Hainault, to meet him at Bruges at the ap-pointed day, or even eight days before,. * 1392. That is beginning tbe year at January, otherwifc MSI. CHAP. 76