• ' 885 The fuhject of mniverfaJ conversation w#* thefe Porkers of la Refpaille, which wood is fituated between Régnais, Grammont, Anghien, ^nd Lyfines. They did much mifchief in the castlewick of Ath, and on the lands of Flo-berge# Lyfines and Anghien ; and thefe pilla* gers were fupported by Ghent. Under their countenance they committed many murders and robberies: they entered Hainault, from whence they dragged people out : )df their beds, and carried them to their fort, when they ran-* fomed them* and thus made war on all man* kind. The lord de Baudrius and de la Morte, caf-tellan of Ath, watched them feveral times, but he could never catch them, for they were too well acquainted with the means of efçaping. They were fo much dreaded on the borders,of Hainault and Brabant that none dared to travel thofe roads, nor through that part of the country. The duke of Burgujidy, in confequence of , the renewal of the war, had reinforced the gar-rifons of his towns and caftles inr Flanders with men and flores. The lord de Guiftelles was commander in Bruges, and fir John de Jjimont in Courtray: for fir William de Namur was at that time lord of Sluys : fir Roger de Guiftelle governed Damme, and fir Peter de la Sieple Ypres, Men at arms were fiationed in all the frontier towns of Flanders by order of the duke of Burgundy. Sir Guy de Pontarlier, marfhal of Burgundy, VOL. VI. - Cc remained