Note 605 — BOOK THE FIFTH. (continued 2)

A short time after the death of Duke Charles, the citizens of Ghent rose in arms, and seized several notable burghers, to wit, Roland Van Wedergraet, who had been chief echevin of the city; John Serssanders, who had been second echevin; Peter Hurribloc, one of the lords of the council-chamber of Flanders, Peter Boudins, Oliver de Grave, and John Vander Poucke; which six persons were condemned and beheaded. The reason of this was, that they had been connected with the government of the city during the year 1468, when peace was made with Duke Charles, on occasion of the excesses committed by the Gantois against the duke on the day on which he made his joyful entry into their city ... “and had granted letters under the great seal of Ghent, that if in future any persons should attempt to excite any sedition or tumult in the town, they should be mulcted of life and fortune, and their children be deprived, in perpetuity, of the freedom of the guild to which they had belonged.” See the Bulletins de l’Académie Royale de Bruxelles, vol. vi. part ii. p. 227.