CHAP. XXXVII.
THE GHENT MEN RECOMMENCE THE WAR AGAINST THEIR LORD, AND BURN HULST.—A FRENCH HERALD ESCAPES FROM GHENT.
The two heralds and their interpreter returned from Lille to Ghent,—and the proposed articles for a peace with the duke of Burgundy were publicly read to the people. Great murmurings arose; and they said that their lord was too hard upon them, and that the conditions were not to be borne. They separated, however, without declaring positively against them, nor yet assenting to them,—and in this state they remained for about a fortnight.
During this time, some of the most turbulent assembled in numbers, and chose for their captain a wicked fellow, called the bastard of Blanc-Estain,—and they styled themselves Companions of the Verde Tente.
Having well armed themselves, they sallied forth out of Ghent one night, and advanced to Hulst, a large village that had surrendered to the duke. On their arrival, they lighted torches and brands to deceive the inhabitants, and make them believe they intended to storm the place on that side, who indeed hastened thither in a body to defend themselves; but, in the mean time, these cunning rogues gained an entrance, without opposition, on the opposite side, and put to death all they met. They plundered the town completely, set it on fire, and returned with their booty to Ghent.
The ambassadors from the king of France were impatiently waiting at Lille, to know whether the ghent men would abide by the articles of peace. Wondering they received no intelligence from Ghent, they sent thither a herald, with letters to the principal inhabitants, to learn their will. The herald, on coming to his lodgings, entreated his host to assist him in the delivering of his letters; but the host had compassion on him, and told him, if he valued his life, not to mention to any one the cause of his coming,—for, were it known, he would infallibly be put to death. He would not suffer him to quit his chamber the whole day, and, on the morrow, gave him his servant to escort him to the gates,—bidding him say to the porters, if any questions were asked him, that he was a french merchant returning to Antwerp,—and, for better security, made him put on his coat the wrong side outward.
The herald, very much alarmed, believed all his host had said, and set out very early, before the gates were opened. On coming to them, he was asked who he was, and replied, a french merchant returning to Antwerp. They asked for something to drink; and as he was untying his purse, the gates were opened; on seeing this, he put spurs to his horse, and galloped through without paying any thing,—but he did not think himself safe until he was arrived at Lille. He related to the ambassadors all that had passed, who, finding that the ghent men would not adhere to their promises, took leave of the duke and returned to king Charles, carrying with them six thousand golden riddes, which the noble duke Philip had presented to them for their trouble.
The duke was ignorant of the capture of Hulst, until the ghent men had taken and burnt Axel. They would have gained Alost, had not sir Anthony de Wissoc, the governor for the duke, made so gallant a defence that they were repulsed. On their return to Ghent, they burnt all the villages that acknowledged the duke's government, and put men, women, and children, to death without mercy.