ft ill exift, we are much furprifed that he fhould treat them fo lightly, as in former times, when the town of Ghent had befieged that of Oude-narde, we, by the unanimous confent of the three great towns of Flanders, wrote to him, as to our fovereign ford, to requeft that he would make peace with us? but at that time he did not feem fo willing to do what at this mo-ment he is fo defirous of. € We have alfo received letters patent to fay, that twice you have written to us, and that you have come twice hither commiflioned by the king aforefaid, as is declared in thefe letters patent. But it feems to us, that in our anfwers, which we have fent, we have clearly explained our intention refpeéting a treaty, which is, that we are refolved no treaty fhall be entered into by us and the country of Flanders, until thofe towns and fortreffes which are fhut againft the towns anf country of Flanders, and par-tkulariy and exprefsly againft the good town of Ghent, of which we are regent, fhall be thlwvn open to thfc will of us the regent and the good town of Ghent ; and, if this be not done m a preliminary* we fhall not treat in -the man tier you requeft. For it feems to us, that the king, according to you, means to af-fe»He a large army to affift his coufin our lord. We know and feel that there are double deal-ings going forwards at this time, as was the cafe formerly. Our intention therefore is, to be on fwè ground and prepared for our defence ; for, if it fhould fall out as we expect, he will find our 149 . '