The earl did not fee clear, ' for this revenue, with his ararice, blinded him ; and, without aftciag for advice, he deprived John Lyon of his office, which he gave to Gilbert.. • When Gilbert thus faw him-feif deacon of the pifijtts, he turned his brothers ac-cording to his will, and gafvc the e^rl fatisfa&ion in regard to this import, for which he was npt the more beloved by the majority of the marinersj but they were forced to fubmit, for the feven bro-thers, affifted by the carl, Were too many for them, and it behoved them to do fo in filence. Thus did Gilbert Matthew, by this wary method, carry his point, and obtain the favour of the earl of Flanders. Gilbert made very handfome preT fents to the officers and chamberlains of the earl ; by which means he blinded them, and gained their friepdfhip. All thefe fine gifts were paid for by the mariners, which difTatisfied many, but they dared not complain, John Lyon, by the above mentioned means and intrigues of Gilbert, entirely loft the good graces of the earl : he lived quiedy on his fortune, fuffering patiently whatever was done to him* Gilbert, being now deacon, and fccretly hating John Lyon, took away from him a third or fourth of the profits which were his due from the navigation. John Lyon did not fay one word, but, prudently dif-fembling, and with an apparently good will, took whatever they gave him i for, he faid, there were times when it was better to be filent than to talk, Gilbert Matthew had a brother named Stephen, a cunning fellow, who had watched all the aftkms e 3 of 101