of the great levies which were making, and in confequence iffued a proclamation throughout Artois, forbidding any one, under pain of lofing his life and fortune, to withdraw any thing whatever from houfe, fortrefs or town ; for he was defirous* that the men at arms who were marching to Artois fhould have the advantage of being Served with whatever was in the low countries. " . The king of France came into Artois, where he remained. Men at arms came to him from all quarters, and fo handfomely equiuped it was a fine fight to fee : they quartered themfelves as they arrived in the plains, and found all the barns quite full and well furniflied. The earl of Flanders came to Arras, which greatly pleafed the king and his lords : he per-formed his homage in the prefence of thofe peers who were there, for the county of Artois, and the king accepted him as his vaflal. His majefty then addreffed him, faying,—-€ Fair cou-fin, if it pleafe God and St. Denis, we will re-ftore you to your inheritance of Flanders, and will abate the pride of Philip von Artaveld and the Flemings fo effectually that they fhall never again have it in their power to rebel.1 c My lord/ • replied the earl, € I have full con-fidence in it; and you will acquire fuch honour and glory that as long as the world lafts you will be praifed, for certainly the pride of the Flem-ings is very great.' Philip, whilft at the fiege of Oudenarde, informed of every thing, and that the king °' France 158