m • . arms had never before been in fueh peril : ev«* the earl was advifed to make for Bruges, and to have the gates clofed and guarded, fo that the Ghent men should not be able to force them and become matters of the town. The earl of Flanders ^tw no help for his men, who were flying on all fides, and, as it was now dark night, followed this advice and took the road to Bruges, his banner difplayed before him. He entered the gates one of the firft, with about forty others, for no more had followed him. He or7 dered guards to defend the gates if the Ghent men should come thither, and then rode to his palace, from whence he iffued a proclamation* that every perfon, under pain of death, should affemble in the market-place. The intention of the earl was to fave the town by this means ; but it did not fucceed, as you shall hear. While the earl was in his palace, and had fent the clerks of the different trades from ftreet to ftreet, to haften the inhabitants to the market-place, in order to preferve the city, the men of Ghent, having clofely purfued their enemies, en-tered the town with them, and inftantly made for the market-place, without turning to the right •r left, where they drew themfelves up in array. Sir Robert Marefchaut,one of the earPs knights, had been fent to the gates, to fee they were guarded : but, while the earl was planning means for defending the town, fir Robert found a gate flung off its hinges, and the Ghent men mpstéts6» of it. ^ Some of the citizens faid to him ; € Robert, Robert,