eved 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