Their stay was no hardship for them since they were in their own country and near their homes, and so they had everything they might need in terms of supplies and other things, and in more abundance and cheaper than they would have been at
Bruges or
Damme.
The
count of Flanders, who knew of the large number of knights in the town of
Oudenaarde, was fearful that by a long siege they would be starved inside, and would have listened willingly to any treaties addressed that were honourable to him, because, in truth, the war against his people restricted him, and he had not undertaken it of his own will. What is more, his mother,
countess Marguerite of Artois, was furious and laid the blame at his feet, and she would have established peace if she could, and so she did. This
countess was residing in the city of
Arras and wrote to
duke Philippe of Burgundy, to whom the inheritance of
Flanders, through the lady
Marguerite, his wife,
13 was to fall upon the
count's death, that he might see his way clear to coming into the
Artois. The
duke, who had been well informed of these affairs, as he received news of them every day, came to
Arras, and his council with him:
Sir Guy de la Trémoille,
Sir Jean de Vienne,
admiral of France,
Sir Guy de Pontallier and many others. The
countess of Artois received them most gladly and demonstrated to them with great wisdom how unseemly was this war between her
son and his country, and how it was as displeasing to her as it must be to all reasonable and good people. She also explained how these valiant men, barons, knights and squires were in great peril within the town of
Oudenaarde, however honourably they were lodged there, and asked, for God's sake, that guidance and a remedy might be provided.
The
duke of Burgundy replied that he was obliged to do this and would do everything in his power to achieve it. Shortly afterwards he departed
Arras and came to
Tournai where he was joyfully received, for those of
Tournai were also very desirous of peace for the reason that their goods could not be moved down the
river Scheldt. The
duke of Burgundy sent the
abbot of Saint-Martin to the army outside
Oudenaarde to discover if the captains of
Ghent might be prepared to negotiate. The
abbot reported back to the
duke of Burgundy that out of respect for him they would do so willingly. Hence the
duke granted them safe conduct to
Ronse, as did the
Flemish for him and his men. And so the
duke came to
Ronse to parley with the
Flemish, and the
Flemish with him, and the first negotiations lasted from the morning until the evening when the
duke returned to
Tournai, with the provosts
14 of
Tournai in his company who had brought him there and who brought him back with them. The discussions lasted for fifteen days, and finding a way forward proved difficult because the
Flemish wished to see
Oudenaarde razed, but neither the
duke nor his council could consent to this. The
Flemish, who were pompous and proud, seemed indifferent to peace, maintaining that, since those within
Oudenaarde could not leave without facing the threat they posed, they considered them conquered.
pb 23 r