[Footnote 15: Franc,--a part of the Low Countries, comprehending the castlewicks of Bergues, Bourbourg, and Furnes. It was thus called from being exempted from the jurisdiction of Bruges, on which it formerly depended.] CHAP. XV. PEACE CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND THE TOWN OF BRUGES. While these things were going on, the men of Bruges, perceiving that a longer resistance to their lord would be the ruin of themselves and their town, sought every means of concluding a treaty with him. At length they succeeded, and submitted themselves to the duke and his council, on terms concluded at Arras the 4th day of March, in the presence of their lord and his council, and numbers of other people, the principal articles of which were as follows. It was, in the first place, ordered, that when the duke of Burgundy should first visit Bruges, twenty of the chief burghers and magistracy should come out of the town one league to meet him, bare-headed, bare-legged, and bare-footed. On their approach to him, they were to fall on their knees and beg his pardon, and entreat that he would be pleased to enter their town. Item, that the gate of the Bouverie[16] should be converted into a chapel, wherein the seven masses should be daily celebrated. Item, that henceforward, whenever the said lord and his successors, earls and countesses of Flanders, should come to Bruges, the burghers should meet them without the gates with the keys of the town, in perpetual remembrance of their obedience. Item, every year, on the day of their misconduct toward their prince, there shall be celebrated a solemn mass in the church of St Donast by the dean and sub-dean, attended by twenty-four of the principal burghers, each holding in his hand a burning wax taper of the weight of one pound, and of the value of four groats. Item, all property of bastards shall no longer be free, but confiscated to the duke on their deaths. Item, a handsome cross shall be erected to commemorate their rebellion. Item, the burghers shall buy up and discharge all fee-farm rents from their said lord, due from the said demesnes. Item, the burghers of Bruges shall have no further communication with those of Sluys; that is to say, those of Bruges, shall not make Sluys their principal quarters, nor join them in their disputes, nor in arms, nor have any connexions with Sluys but in respect to their commerce. Item, in regard to the trades carried on at Sluys, which has been a matter of long quarrel between the towns of Ghent and Sluys, Bruges must no longer interfere. Item the inhabitants of Bruges shall not be permitted to raise an army, on pain of forfeiting their lives and fortunes. Item, whoever shall stop the workmen from continuing their trades, when a riot may happen, shall incur similar penalties as in the foregoing article.