who went one evening to see Philip Van Artevelde.  “What we want now,” said he, “is to choose a captain of great renown.  Raise up again in this country that father of yours who, in his lifetime, was so loved and feared in Flanders.”  “Peter,” replied Philip, “you make me a great offer; I promise that, if you put me in that place, I will do nought without your advice.”  “Ah! well!” said Dubois, “can you really be haughty and cruel?  The Flemings like to be treated so; with them you must make no more account of the life of men than you do of larks when the season for eating them comes.”  “I will do what shall be necessary,” said Van Artevelde.  The struggle grew violent between the count and the communes of Flanders with Ghent at their head.  After alternations of successes and reverses the Ghentese were victorious; and Count Louis with difficulty escaped by hiding himself at Bruges in the house of a poor woman who took him up into a loft where her children slept, and where he lay flat between the paillasse and the feather-bed.  On leaving this asylum he went to Bapaume to see his son-in-law, the Duke of Burgundy, and to ask his aid.  “My lord,” said the duke to him, “by the allegiance I owe to you and also to the king you shall have satisfaction.  It were to fail in one’s duty to allow such a scum to govern a country.  Unless order were restored, all knighthood and lordship might be destroyed in Christendom.”  The Duke of Burgundy went to Senlis, where Charles vi. was, and asked for his support on behalf of the Count of Flanders.  The question was referred to the king’s council.  The Duke of Berry hesitated, saying, “The best part of the prelates and nobles must be assembled and the whole matter set before them; we will see what is the general opinion.”  In the midst of this deliberation the young king came in with a hawk on his wrist.  “Well! my dear uncles,” said he, “of what are you parleying?  Is it aught that I may know?” The Duke of Berry enlightened him, saying, “A brewer, named Van Artevelde, who is English to the core, is besieging the remnant of the knights of Flanders shut up in Oudenarde; and they can get no aid but from you.  What say you to it?  Are you minded to help the Count of Flanders to reconquer his heritage, which those presumptuous villains have taken from him?”

“By my faith,” answered the king, “I am greatly minded; go we thither; there is nothing I desire so much as to get on my harness, for I have never yet borne arms; I would fain set out to-morrow.”  Amongst the prelates and lords summoned to Compiegne some spoke of the difficulties and dangers that might be encountered.  “Yes, yes,” said the king, “but ‘begin nought and win nought.’” When the Flemings heard of the king’s decision they sent respectful letters to him, begging him to be their mediator with the count their lord; but the letters were received with scoffs, and the messengers were kept in prison.  At this news Van Artevelde