ê I am furprifed/ . anfwered Philip, c how. the Englifh can fo long delay it, when they know they are to have free entrance into thk coun-try; and I marvel what they are thinking of, as well as our people who a;e there. Notwith-ftanding this, I will not hefitate going to. Ghent to draw out the arriere-ban, with which I will re-turn and offer battle to the king of France, what-, ever be the confequences. I am informed by Peter du Bois, that the king of France has full twenty thoufand men at arms, which conftitute fixty thoufand fighting men. I will draw up in battle-array as many to meet him ; and if God, out of his grace, and the juft caufe we have, fliould enable me to defeat him, I fhall be the moft refpected lord in the world; if I be difcom-fited, better fortune will befal a greater lord than myfelf/ As Philip von Artaveld and the lord de Har-celles were tbus converting, fome fbldiers arrived who had been at the battle of Commines, who confirmed the firft intelligence. Philip faid, c And Peter du Bois, is he dead, or a prifoner?' They anfwéred,. f Neither; but he has been fe-verely wounded in the battle, and has retired to Bruges/ .At thefe words, Philip mounted his horfe and ordered thirty of his men to do the fame, when he fet out for Bruges. He quitted, however, the direct road, to view fome of the garrifon of Oudenarde who had made a fally the preceding night, but had been overpowered andflain: they. were twelve in number who had been put to death. 194