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A rumour was now spread throughout the town, that, for nine years and more, Jacob Von Artaveld had collected all the revenues of Flanders, that he had usurped the government without rendering any account, collecting all the rents, and receiving all the fines and forfeitures, which belonged to the Earl of Flanders; and that of this great treasure he had sent part into England.

At this information the men of Ghent were greatly enraged; and as Von Artaveld rode along the streets, those who were before wont to salute him respectfully, now turned their backs and went into their houses to avoid him. He could not help observing this, and, suspecting that something was wrong, as soon as he had dismounted and entered his hotel, he ordered all the doors and windows to be closed and fastened. Scarcely had his servants obeyed the order, when the street in which he lived was filled from one end to the other with all sorts of people, especially the lowest mechanics. His mansion was surrounded, attacked, and entered by force. Those within did all they could to defend it, and killed and wounded many of the assailants. They could not however hold out against such vigorous attacks, for three parts of the town were before the hotel. When Jacob Von Artaveld saw what efforts the populace were making, and how he was beset, he came to the window with his head uncovered, and began to use the most humble language, saying, "My good people, what ails you? Why are you so enraged against me? How have I incurred

your displeasure? Tell me, and I will conform entirely to your wishes."

Those who heard him made answer as with one voice, "We want to have an account of all the money you have made away with."

"Gentlemen," replied Von Artaveld, in a soft tone, "be assured that I have never taken anything from the treasures of Flanders; and if you will return quietly to your homes, and come here to-morrow morning, I will be provided with an account with which you must be satisfied."

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"No, no!" they all exclaimed, we must have it directly; you shall not escape in this way. We know that you have emptied the treasury, and sent the money into England without our consent: you shall therefore suffer death for it."

When Von Artaveld heard this, he clasped his hands together, began to weep bitterly, and said, "Gentlemen, such as I am, you have made me; you formerly swore you would protect me against all the world, and now, without the slightest reason, you want to murder me. You are certainly able to do it, if you please, for I am but one man against you all; but think better of it, I intreat you, for the love of God. Recollect former times, and consider how many kindnesses I have conferred upon you. You wish to give me a sorry recompense for all the good you have experienced at my hands. You are not ignorant that when commerce was dead in this country, it was I who restored it, and that I governed you in so peaceable a manner that

under my administration you had all things according to your wishes,-corn, oats, and all sorts of merchandize which have made you so wealthy."

The men of Ghent would endure it no longer :"Come down," they cried out, "for we will have without further delay a statement of the great treasure of Flanders: it is not proper for any officer to receive the rents of a lord or of a country without rendering an account."

When Jacob Von Artaveld found that he could in no way appease the Ghent men, he shut the window, intending to get out of his house the back way, in order to take shelter in a church adjoining; but his hotel was already broken into, and upwards of four hundred men had entered.

To bring his history to a close, he was seized by them, and slain without mercy. His death-blow was given by a saddler, by name Thomas Denys. Thus did Jacob Von Artaveld, who in his time had been complete master of all Flanders, end his days. Ignorant men first raised him to power, and wicked men slew him.

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THE reader should be informed that while King Edward was beyond sea, making war against the French and their allies, the King of France sent over some forces into Scotland, and earnestly intreated Sir William Douglas, the Earl Patrick of Dunbar, Sir Simon Frazer, Alexander Ramsay, and others, to make an incursion into England, in order, if possible, to oblige the English to return to their own country. The Scottish lords gladly consented, collected their forces, and made themselves ready. They quitted the forest of Jedworth, which had been their stronghold for the last seven years, traversed Scotland, and retook from the English as many fortresses as they were able, passed by Berwick, and crossing the river Tyne,

entered Northumberland, where they found plenty of fat cattle. Having destroyed in part the whole country as far as Durham, and even beyond it, they returned by another road, doing the same to all the counties through which they passed. On re-entering Scotland, they gained all the fortresses which the King of England held, except the good town of Berwick and three other castles, Stirling, Roxburgh, and Edinburgh, which are so strong that you will scarcely find their equals in any country.

The Castle of Edinburgh is situated on a high rock commanding an extensive view, and the ascent is so steep that few ever go up to it without stopping two or three times. The governor of the Castle, at the time to which I am alluding, was a gallant English knight, by name Sir Walter Limousin. The Scots were very anxious to recover this place; and a bold .thought came into the mind of Sir William Douglas, which he mentioned to his companions, who all agreed to try to execute it. They collected about two hundred lances of Highlanders, and purchased oats, oatmeal, coal, and straw, which they landed previously at a port about three miles from the Castle.

When they had armed themselves, they issued forth in the night time, and having chosen ten or twelve from the number, in whom the greatest confidence could be placed, they dressed themselves in old threadbare clothes, with torn hats, like poor tradesmen, and loaded twelve small horses, each with a sack filled with oats, meal, and coal. The rest of the party then went

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