found plenty of provifion. The country began to take alarm on hearing the Englifh were in poffeffion of Gravelines ; and thofe of the low countries fheltered themfelves in the fwtreff«, lending their wives ' and children to Bergues, Bourbourg and St. Omer. • . The earl of Flanders heard at Lille, where he refided, that the Englifh had made War- on his eountpy, and had - taken Gravelines. Hè began to have fufpicions of them, -as well as of Bruges add its dependencies. Suinnaoniag ^Ms council, he faid to them ; 'I am very much aftonifhedthafc the Englifh fhould overrun my ooiintry,: and take my towns without giving me any notice of it 5 and that, without fending me any defiance, they fhould have ' entered my territories. ' * In-deed, my lord,' fome of thein replied,c ymhmè caufeto wonder 5 but one'may fuppofe they con-sider Flanders belonging to France, fince the king'had advanced fo fat into it that the mum try farrendered to him/ x Well, what had m betH do ?* afked the earl. € ' It will be right,' re-plied his council; 'that Sir John de Villain, and fir John du Moulin, who are here, and have penftons from the king of England, fhould go it ymm' name to England to fpeak with the king, and report to'bhn a detail'of this affair, and de? ipand, in your name, for what purpofe he thu* makes war on you. I believe, that when hé fliaU have heard your ambafladors, lie will be angered at thofe who have thus harraffed your country^ and recal them thence with much blame;9 " f This is rery well/ faid the earl, •1 but during '": ' "' . the 271