CHAP. WV: THE BISHOP OF NORWICH MARCHES TOWARDS ' DUNKIRK.—HE DEFEATS TWELVE THOUSAND ' FLEMINGS AND TAKES THE TOWN. • - • THE fame d$y that the knights of Flanders had departed, news was brought to the bifhop and the Englifh, that there were at Dun-kirk and ii} its neighbourhood, upwards of twelve ' thoufand men armed, and that the bâtard of . Flanders commanded them, but that there were other knights and fquires who ?lfo advtfedtheip. That they had fkirmiflied with their men at Mar-dyke, and had repulfed and killed one hundred. The bifhop faid; * Now obferve the conduct of the earl of Flanders: he affects to do nothing, and yet he is at the bottom of all: he wants to • negotiate fword in band. : I am refolved to march * to-morrow towards Dunkirk, and fee what fort . of men thefe are/ • This propofai met univerfal approbation* and notice was fent of it through Gravelines. This day two knights joined the army, one from Ca-. lais, the other from Guines, with about thirty lances and fixty archers. Thefe knights were called fir Nicholas Cliton* and fir John Prac-tonf, governor of Guines. * Cliton. Q. if not Clinton, f Dracton. Q. if not Drayton* On 657S