e。 Put the pieces of armour into that closet so that they may not catch the eye of any who may happen to come hither。 The day is already closing。 In half an hour it will be nightfall。 Then we will try and make our way out。
Listening at the top of the stairs they could hear voices below； but as the gallery was quiet and deserted they made their way a floor lower； and seeing an open door entered it。 Walter looked from the window。
〃There is a back…yard below；〃 he said； 〃with a door opening upon a narrow lane。 We are now upon the second storey； and but some twenty…five feet above the ground。 We will not risk going down through the house； which could scarce be accomplished without detection； but will at once tear up into strips the coverings of the bed； and I will make a rope by which we may slip down into the courtyard as soon as it is dark。 We must hope that none will come up before that time； but； indeed； all will be so full of the news of the events which have happened that it is scarce likely that any will come above at present。〃
The linen sheets and coverings were soon cut up and knotted together in a rope。 By the time that this was finished the darkness was closing in； and after waiting patiently for a few minutes they lowered the rope and slid down into the yard。 Quietly they undid the bolts of the gate and issued into the lane。 The mantles were provided with hoods； as few of the lower class of Flemings wore any other head…covering。
Drawing these hoods well over their heads so as to shade their faces the two sallied out from the lane。 They were soon in one of the principal streets； which was crowded with people。 Bands of weavers； butchers； skinners； and others were parading the streets shouting and singing in honour of their victory and of the downfall and death of him whom they had but a few days before regarded as the mainstay of Flanders。 Many of the better class of burghers stood in groups in the streets and talked in low and rather frightened voices of the consequences which the deed of blood would bring upon the city。 On the one hand Edward might march upon it with his army to avenge the murder of his ally。 Upon the other hand they were now committed to France。 Their former ruler would return； and all the imposts and burdens against which they had rebelled would again be laid upon the city。
〃What shall we do now？〃 Ralph asked； 〃for assuredly there will be no issue by the gates。〃
〃We must possess ourselves of a length of rope if possible； and make our escape over the wall。 How to get one I know not； for the shops are all closed； and even were it not so I could not venture in to purchase any； for my speech would betray us at once。 Let us separate； and each see whether he can find what we want。 We will meet again at the entrance to this church in an hour's time。 One or other of us may find what we seek。〃
Walter searched in vain。 Wherever he saw the door of a yard open he peered in； but in no case could he see any signs of rope。 At the end of the hour he returned to their rendezvous。 Ralph was already there。
〃I have found nothing； Ralph。 Have you had better fortune？〃
〃That have I； Master Walter； and was back nigh an hour since。 Scarce had I left you when in a back street I came upon a quiet hostelry； and in the courtyard were standing half a dozen teams of cattle。 Doubtless their owners had brought hay or corn into the city； and when the tumult arose and the gates were closed found themselves unable to escape。 The masters were all drinking within； so without more ado I cut off the ropes which served as traces for the oxen； and have them wound round my body under my mantle。 There must be twenty yards at least； and as each rope is strong enough to hold double our weight there will be no difficulty in lowering ourselves from the walls。〃
〃You have done well indeed； Ralph；〃 Walter said。 〃Let us make our way thither at once。 Everyone is so excited in the city； that； as yet； there will be but few guards upon the wall。 The sooner； therefore； that we attempt to make our escape the better。〃
CHAPTER XIII： THE WHITE FORD
They made their way without interruption to the wall。 This they found； as they expected； entirely deserted； although； no doubt； guards had been posted at the gates。 The Flemings； however； could have felt no fear of an attack by so small a force as the five hundred English whom they knew to be in the neighbourhood。
Walter and his companion soon knotted the ropes together and lowered themselves into the moat。 A few strokes took them to the other side； and scrambling out； they made their way across the country to the spot where the English had been posted。 They found the Earl of Salisbury； who commanded； in a great state of uneasiness。 No message had reached him during the day。 He had heard the alarm… bells of the city ring； and a scout who had gone forward returned with the news that the gates were closed and the drawbridges raised； and that a strong body of men manned the walls。
〃Your news is indeed bad；〃 he said； when Walter related to him the events which had taken place in the town。 〃This will altogether derange the king's plans。 Now that his ally is killed I fear that his hopes of acquiring Flanders for England will fall to the ground。 It is a thousand pities that he listened to Van Artevelde and allowed him to enter Ghent alone。 Had his majesty landed； as he wished； and made a progress through the country； the prince receiving the homage of all the large towns； we could then very well have summoned Ghent as standing alone against all Flanders。 The citizens then would； no doubt； have gladly opened their gates and received the prince； and if they had refused we would have made short work of them。 However； as it has turned out； it is as well that we did not enter the town with the Fleming； for against so large and turbulent a population we should have had but little chance。 And now； Master Somers； we will march at once for Sluys and bear the news to the king； and you shall tell me as we ride thither how you and your man…at…arms managed to escape with whole skins from such a tumult。〃
The king was much grieved when he heard of the death of Artevelde； and held a council with his chief leaders。 At first； in his indignation and grief； he was disposed to march upon Ghent and to take vengeance for the murder of his ally； but after a time calmer counsels prevailed。
The Flemings were still in rebellion against their count； who was the friend of France。 Were the English to attack Ghent they would lose the general goodwill of the Flemings； and would drive them into the arms of France； while； if matters were left alone； the effect of the popular outburst which had caused the death of Artevelde would die away； and motives of interest and the fear of France would again drive them into the arms of England。 The expedition therefore returned to England； and there the king； in a proclamation to his people； avoided all allusion to the death of his ally； but simply stated that he had been waited upon by the councils of all the Flemish towns； and that their faithful obedience to himself as legitimate King of France； was established upon a firmer basis than ever。
This course had the effect which he had anticipated from it。 The people of Flanders perceived the danger and disadvantage which must accrue to their trade from any permanent disagreement with England。 They were convinced by the events which soon afterwards happened in France that the King of England had more power than Phillip of Valois； and could； if he chose； punish severely any breach of faith towards him。 They therefore sent over commissioners to express their grief and submission。 The death of Artevelde was represented as the act of a frantic mob； and severe fines were imposed upon the leaders of the party who slew him； and although the principal towns expressed their desire still to remain under the rule of the Count of Flanders； they suggested that the ties which bound them to England should be strengthened by the marriage of Louis； eldest son of the count； to one of Edward's daughters。 More than this； they offered to create a diversion for the English forces acting in Guienne and Gascony by raising a strong force and expelling the French garrisons still remaining in some parts of the country。 This was done。 Hugo of Hastings was appointed by the king captain… general in Flanders； and with a force of English and Flemings did good service by expelling the French from Termond and several other towns。
The character of Jacob van Artevelde has had but scant justice done to it by most of the historians of the time。 These； living in an age of chivalry； when noble blood and lofty deeds were held in extraordinary respect； had little sympathy with the brewer of Ghent； and deemed it contrary to the fitness of things that the chivalry of France should have been defied and worsted by mere mechanics and artisans。 But there can be no doubt that Artevelde was a very great man。 He may have been personally ambitious； but he was a true patriot。 He had great military talents。 He completely remodelled and wonderfully improved the internal administration of the country； and raised its commerce； manufactures； and agriculture to a pitch which they had never before reached。 After his death his memory was esteemed and revered by the Flemings； who long submitted to the laws he had made； and preserved his regulations with scrupulous exactitude。
Edward now hastened to get together a great army。 Every means were adopted to raise money and to gather stores； and every man between sixteen and sixty south of the Trent was called upon to take up arms and commanded to assemble at Portsmouth in the middle of Lent。 A tremendous tempest； however； scattered the fleet collected to carry the expedition； a great many of the ships were lost； and it was not until the middle of July； 1346； that it sailed from England。
It consisted of about 500 ships and 10；000 sailors； and carried 4000 men…at… arms； 10；000 archers； 12；000 Welsh； and 6000 Irish。
This seems but a small army considering the efforts which had been made； but it was necessary to leave a considerable force behind for the defence of the Scottish frontier； and England had already armies in Guie