to pay tithes and taxes to the Count and hatred toward the nobility and authority. The revolt was led by landowning farmers such as Jacques Peyte and Nicolaas Zannekin. Members of the local gentry joined, and the mayor of Bruges, Willem de Deken, became the leader of the revolt. Zannekin fled to Bruges from where the uprising spread. Zannekin won the neighbouring towns of Roeselare, Poperinge, Nieuwpoort, Veurne, Dunkirk, Cassel and Bailleul for his cause as they opened their gates to him. The new Count of Flanders, Louis de Nevers, arrived in Flanders in January 1324 but had no army to contain the revolt, which caused him to negotiate with the rebels. In April 1324, the Peace of St. Andrew was made, recognising the merits of the complaints of the people against the exactions of the collectors. Revolt against power of Count The agitation continued after the murder of a labourer by a knight and the arrest of six burghers of Bruges by the Count in Kortrijk. The men from Bruges took up arms, and the Count was captured by the inhabitants in Kortrijk. He was brought to Bruges, where several of his companions were executed on June 21, 1325. The men from Bruges elected Robert of Cassel, a younger son of Robert III of Flanders and thus the uncle of the Count of Flanders, as their regent of Flanders ("Ruwaard") to lead them in an expedition against Ghent (July 15, 1325) during which they laid siege to the city. The rebels' numbers were strengthened when inhabitants from Ypres and Ghent, who had been driven out of their cities, joined them. King Charles IV of France sent ambassadors to Flanders. They proposed to submit the grievances of the commons against the count to his royal arbitration. As a prerequisite to any negotiations, the rebels demanded the submission of Ghent. In vain, the King summoned Robert of Cassel to Paris (September 19, 1325) and named Jean de Namur as "Ruwaard of Flanders". On November 4, the Bishop of Senlis and the Abbot of St. Denis excommunicated the Flemish rebels at the King's request, and the King also threatened to intervene militarily. After the excommunication, Robert of Cassel broke ties with the rebels and joined the King's side. Count Louis of Nevers was released before Christmas, and on February 18, 1326, he forgave Bruges and swore to respect the customs and liberties