be fet at liberty ; by which means the love and affection (which, through God's grace, fubfists between us) may be continued uninterrupted be-tween you and the country of Flanders. x This love, very dear friends, does not appear to us to be very great : for we have received informa-tion that the king of France,. the dukes of Bur-gundy and Brittany are affembling their forces to come to the affiftance of my lord, the earl, againft the country of Flanders, to regain that country, • and to fight with us, notwithftanding the letters which they have fent us to treat of peace and concord, which to us does not feem to be a conduct becoming fuch perfons ; and for which reafon we are upon our guard, and {hall continue fo henceforth day and night. With refpect to the prifoners, your townfmen, we fhall detain them until we know. for a cer-tainty the truth of this affembling of forces, and until it fhall pleafe us to fet them at liberty. You know, that when your citizens were lately in Flanders feeking peace, it was then ordered that no perfon whatever fhould bring meffages or letters without a proper paffport. This how-ever is what the lords commiffioners, being with you, have done, in order to excite difcord and diflenfions in the country. We therefore entreat of you, dear friends, that you will not in future fend any of your citizens or towns-men to Flapders by order of thefe commiffion-ers. But if there fhould be any thing that we ,can do, affecting your town or its citizens, we will attend to it in the fame manner as we fhould •154