The different negotiations and embaflks had called for large fuks, and, though the ranfom va$ hot two hundred thoufand florins to Bajazet, yet tho other cofts and expenfcs amounted to a* much more, as was declared by thofe through whofe hands the money palled ; and without thia fum their liberty would never have been ob-tained. . It was matte? of much confideration how this moççy was tQ be raifed $ for neither the duke nor duchefs were inclined to abate any thing of their ftatc* which was very magpificent. •It was re-lolved by his council to lay a tax oa all the town* under his obedience, more efpecially thofe of Flan-ders - for they abounded in wealth, from their commerce, and therefore the greater load was laid m them, that the count de, Nevcrs might be at liberty to, quit Venice. When the matter was mentioned to t|i€ towns-men of Ghent, they readily declared their willing- " nefs to prefent their young lord fifty thoufand florins.to aid him in his ranfom. Bruges» Mechlin, Antwerp, Ypres, Courtray, and the other towns in Flanders, exprefled their readinefs tQ aflift in the ranfom of the count dç Ncvers. « Xhc duke and duchefs of Burgundy were well pkafed at thefe anfwer% and returned their warm acknowledgements to the magiâratcs of the dif-ferent tqwns in Flanders, and to thofe of Artois and Burgundy, who had tcftified equally good in-clinations. The king of France was alfo very defirous of . aiding