Item, as to the new regulation of the laws, four noble persons, officers of the duke, and four of the municipality, shall be selected for this purpose; and whereas formerly four-and-twenty persons formed the municipality, twelve of whom were always chosen from the company of weavers,--this shall now be abolished. Item, whereas, when any troubles existed in the town, the banners of the trades were displayed, and the populace assembled in the market-place: it is ordained, that such proceedings be abolished, and that the banners be placed in a coffer fastened with five locks,--one key shall be delivered to the bailiff of Ghent,--the first sheriff shall have another,--the high deacon of trades the third,--and the other two shall be given in charge to two discreet persons elected by the townsmen,--and there shall be no more assembling in the market-place. Item, neither the sheriffs nor any gentleman in Ghent shall issue public mandates in their names. Item, the whole of the municipality, the deacons, governors, and two thousand of the commonalty shall advance half a league out of the town, clad only in their shirts, and humbly on their knees, beg pardon of their lord, saying, that they had wickedly and wrongfully made war against him their lord, for which they crave his mercy. Item, should any of the duke's officers henceforth misbehave, his offence was not to be cognizable by the municipality,--but it must be referred to their lord and his council. Item, whereas formerly the municipality of Ghent had usually extended their government over the country of Waes, Alost, Dendermonde and Oudenarde,--it was ordered, that the said ambassadors should, within the year, make a reformation, either by new ordinances or by resigning their jurisdiction altogether. Item, to satisfy their lord for his expenses in this war, they were to pay him two hundred and fifty thousand riddes[141]. Such was the sentence of the ambassadors on those of Ghent,--who, however, notwithstanding their promises, refused absolutely to abide by it. CHAP. XXXVII. THE GHENT MEN RECOMMENCE THE WAR AGAINST THEIR LORD, AND BURN HULST.--A FRENCH HERALD ESCAPES FROM GHENT. The two heralds and their interpreter returned from Lille to Ghent,--and the proposed articles for a peace with the duke of Burgundy were publicly read to the people. Great murmurings arose; and they said that their lord was too hard upon them, and that the conditions were not to be borne. They separated, however, without declaring positively against them, nor yet assenting to them,--and in this state they remained for about a fortnight. During this time, some of the most turbulent assembled in numbers, and chose for their captain a wicked fellow, called the bastard of Blanc-Estain,--and they styled themselves Companions of the Verde Tente.