These citizens, who were taken aback and wounded by this news, as they were not at all responsible, began to excuse themselves and the good citizens of
Ghent, but their pleas were useless because the
count was so incensed that he would not listen. They were made to leave his presence, mounted their horses and returned to
Ghent, recalling how well they had done and how they would have reached an agreement of peace with the
count if this accursèd castle had not been burnt down. Instead the
count had made grave threats towards them and told them that they would never have peace with him unless his demands were met and he was satisfied. The burghers of the town saw that the situation was turning sour, and that the
White Hoods had wrecked everything, but there were none bold enough to say so. The
count of Flanders departed
Male and, with all the members of his household, came to
Lille and set up residence there. He summoned there all of the knights of
Flanders, and the noble men who were his vassals, to ask for their counsel on how he should manage the business and exact revenge on the
Ghenters who had committed so many outrages against him. All of the gentlemen of
Flanders swore to be good and loyal to him, as every man naturally ought to be to his lord. The
count was greatly pleased by this. He then sent men to all of his castles; to
Dendermonde,
Rupelmonde,
Aalst,
Gavere, and
Oudenaarde, strengthening his garrisons everywhere.
SHF 2-114 sync
How Jan Yoens died, and of the captains the Ghenters appointed, and of the towns of Flanders which allied with the Ghenters against the count, and so on.
Jan Yoens was overjoyed when he saw that the
count of Flanders was acting in earnest and that he was so incensed that the
Ghenters would find no peace with him, and that his own cunning tactics had forced the town of
Ghent so far towards war that it was necessary for them to continue on that path, whether they liked it or not.
Then he said aloud, "Sirs, you can see and hear how our lord the
count is making preparations against us and will not have peace with us. I therefore recommend and advise for the best that, before we are further oppressed and subjugated, we find out who in
Flanders will keep faith with us. I can answer for those of
Geraardsbergen; they will not oppose us, rather they will willingly take our side. As will those of
Kortrijk as it is in our castlery
11 and so within our jurisdiction. But as for the
Brugeois, who are so high and mighty and who provoked this debacle, it would benefit us to go to them in such a show of strength that, by fair means or foul, they unite with us."
Each of them replied, "Good, good."
Then over the course of time, it was arranged who would go on this mission, and they prepared themselves and made ready, duly mustered and arrayed as befitted them.
pb 19 r