There he delivered an eloquent speech, pointing out, unhesitatingly but temperately, the policy which he considered good for the country.

"Forget not," he said, "the might and the glory of Flanders.

Who, pray, shall forbid that we defend our interests by using our rights?
Can the King of France prevent us from treating with the King of England?
And may we not be certain that if we were to treat with the King of England, the King of France would not be the less urgent in seeking our alliance?
Besides, have we not with us all the communes of Brabant, of Hainault, of Holland, and of Zealand ?" The audience cheered these words; the commune of Ghent forthwith assembled, and on the 3d of January, 1337 [according to the old style, which made the year begin at the 25th of March], re-established the offices of captains of parishes according to olden usage, when the city was exposed to any pressing danger.

It was carried that one of these captains should have the chief government of the city; and James Van Artevelde was at once invested with it.

From that moment the conduct of Van Artevelde was ruled by one predominant idea: to secure free and fair commercial intercourse for Flanders with England, whilst observing a general neutrality in the war between the Kings of England and France, and to combine so far all the communes of Flanders in one and the same policy.