There were this day from seven to eight score helmets in the market place at Brussels who made a fine show; for they were all richly dressed, and adorned with their emblazoned surcoats. When the officers at arms had made the usual proclamations, the tournament commenced, and many hardy strokes were given; but the prize was adjudged to a gentleman of Brabant, called Jean Linquart. On the morrow, and the ensuing day were great justings: on the first, the duke of Brabant gained the prize, and on the second the lord de Mamines won it. With regard to the dancings and banquets, there were abundance of both, and crowds of ladies and damsels richly dressed according to the fashions of the country. There were likewise very many masquerades of the ladies and gentlemen. During the feast, the sword was given to the lord de Croy, knight to the duke of Burgundy, who, having considered a while, had another tournament proclaimed to be holden on an appointed day in the town of Mons, in Hainault, but which, from certain causes that interfered at that time, did not take place. The duke of Burgundy, having tarried in the city of Brussels from four to five days, set out on his return home to Flanders, notwithstanding the weather was then very severe, with frost and snow. The other lords returned to the places whence they came. CHAP. LVI. THE COUNT DE NAMUR DIES, AND MAKES THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY HIS HEIR. The count de Namur, who was very old, died in the course of this year. He had, some time before his death, sold to the duke of Burgundy his county of Namur with its dependancies; and on his decease the duke advanced thither, when peaceable possession was given to him of the whole; and he appointed commissioners and captains to govern and defend it at his pleasure. The Liegeois, who bordered on Namur, were not well pleased at this accession of power to the duke of Burgundy, whom they feared before, and very much disliked, because duke John his father, and duke William his uncle, had formerly conquered them, as has been related in the earlier part of this work. The Liegeois held, at this time, the strong town of Mont-Orgueil, situated near to Bouvines[18], which was said to belong to Namur, and, as such, the duke of Burgundy wished to have it, but the Liegeois refused to yield it up, and hence began a quarrel on each side. The duke, finding that he could not gain it amicably, returned to Flanders and secretly raised a body of men at arms, whom he dispatched, under the command of sir John Blondel and Gerard bastard of Brimeu, to the country of Liége, with orders to win the tower of Mont-Orgueil by force. When they had approached the walls, and were preparing their scaling ladders, they were seen by the garrison, who made a sally and defeated them. They then returned back, and the Liegeois kept up a stricter watch than before; and their hatred to the duke of Burgundy was increased.