The count de St Pol, on another day, advanced from Alost to before the walls of Ghent, and gallantly repulsed those who sallied out against him; and this he did repeatedly. The count d'Estampes returned thither also, and not only repulsed them back into Ghent but slew upwards of forty: he lost, however, seven of his archers. Between Ghent and Antwerp lies a fertile country, called the country of Waes: it is very strong from its bogs and ditches, and has several rich towns and villages dependant on Ghent, and would not own any other superior lord than the municipality of Ghent. During the different wars that had taken place, this country had never been overrun or pillaged, and therefore was plentifully supplied with all things. The ghent men had likewise strongly fortified it with ditches and bulwarks, so that it was of difficult entrance, more especially as those of Ghent were very assiduous in guarding it. The duke, being anxious to possess this country, had a strong bridge thrown over the Scheld, before Dendermonde; and when it was finished, a valiant knight called sir James de Lalain, with leave of the duke, was the first who passed over, accompanied by the archers of the duke's body-guard and a few men at arms. This was on the 18th day of May; and he had not advanced far when he was met by a large body of ghent men, who instantly attacked and surrounded him on all sides. He behaved himself most valorously: no knight could have done better: but sir John bastard of Renty, captain of these archers, did not do the same,--for he let fall the duke's banner which he bore, and saved himself as fast as his horse could carry him. In this encounter, seven or eight archers were slain, three of whom were of the duke's guard. The horse of a gallant young knight, sir Philip de Lalain, was killed under him in a bog, while he defended himself like a wild boar at bay: had it not been for the exertions of his brother sir James, who dashed into the midst of those that held him in such peril, he could not have escaped alive; but sir James, by his valour, remounted his brother in spite of them, and having collected around him the few men he had, he marched off, himself closing their rear, to withstand all attempts of the enemy to hurt them. The archers who had remained with him, throwing off their jackets, made such excellent use of their bows that they forced the ghent men to retreat to a respectable distance,--and sir James carried his men and archers safely back to Dendermonde.