It was said that King Edward used familiarly to call him "his dear gossip"; and it is certain that there was not a feudal lord of the time whose power was not eclipsed by this leader of the people.

One of the principal motives which cemented the attachment of the Flemings to Artaveldt was the advantage obtained through his influence with Edward for facilitating the trade with England, whence they procured the chief supply of wool for their manufactories.

Edward promised them seventy thousand sacks as the reward of their alliance.

But though greatly influenced by the stimulus of general interest, the Flemings loved their domestic liberty better than English wool; and when they found that their ruward degenerated from a firm patriot into the partisan of a foreign prince, they became disgusted with him altogether; and he perished in 1345, in a tumult raised against him by those by whom he had been so lately idolized.

The Flemings held firm, nevertheless, in their alliance with England, only regulating the connection by a steady principle of national independence.
Edward knew well how to conciliate and manage these faithful and important auxiliaries during all his continental wars.