pb 17 rWhen Jean de la Faucille, who was at that time a prominent figure in the town of Ghent and renowned for his wisdom, found that things had gone so far that the count's bailiff in the town had been killed so disgracefully, he sensed that it would end badly, and so, to remove himself from the suspicion of the count and the town, he departed the town of Ghent as clandestinely as he could, and went to a house of great beauty which he owned outside Ghent. He remained there, having given out that he was unwell, and nobody spoke to him besides his own men; yet every day he received news from Ghent, for most of his family, his wife, and children, were still there. And thus he remained hidden for a long period.

The good people of Ghent, the wealthy and distinguished men, who had wives and children within the town, and property and inheritance within and outside, and who had been brought up to live honourably and without constraint, were very ill at ease with what they saw happening. They knew that they had caused great offence to their lord and so conferred among themselves and agreed that they must provide a remedy and make reparation for these crimes now or at another time, and throw themselves on his mercy, and it would be better done sooner rather than later. So they held council and debated what most beneficial means they could employ to preserve the honour of themselves and the town of Ghent. Jan Yoens and the captains of the White Hoods were called to this council; otherwise they would not have dared hold it. Many words were exchanged and proposals made, and finally they were unanimous and undivided in their decision to elect twelve prominent and judicious men, who would go before the count and ask for his mercy and forgiveness for the death of his bailiff whom they had slain. If they could achieve peace in this way it would be a good thing, but the peace should be all encompassing with no demands made thereafter. This motion was carried and the burghers who would make the trip duly elected. Jan Yoens always said, 'It is good to be in favour with our lord,' but he desired the exact opposite, and thought and said to himself that circumstances were not yet as he would make them. With the council broken, the twelve burghers departed and rode until they reached Male near Bruges where they found the count, whom they discovered, on meeting him, to be brutal and cruel, and exceedingly angry with the Ghenters. The twelve burghers showed the count a fine display of remorse and entreated him, with hands clasped, to have pity on them. They made their excuses for the death of his bailiff on behalf of the men of the law and the prominent figures of the town. They said to him,

"Dear lord, consent to us bringing peace back to the town of Ghent, which loves you so, and we promise you that in time to come those who committed or incited these offences will be made to atone for them so that you may be satisfied, and it will stand as an example to all other towns." pb 17 v