The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-09-27

MADAM" he Numbered ont, you shall not
disbonor me with impunity! Listen, gentle
men; speak in the presence of God, the judge
Of us all. 1t is you, Joanna Of Navarro, that
exhaust our country's resources by your prodi-
gality; it is you that have ground down the
kings subjects by the debasement of the coin
and by extortiops and expressions of every
kind it is you that bring disgrace upon my
noble brother; it is you that are the blot and
shame of France. Henceforth serve you not /.
Henceforth I renounce you false traitress"
With these words he drew his sword from
the scabbard, snapped the blade in two across
his knee, and dashed the pieces with such vio-
lence against the ground, that they rebounded
to the very steps of the throne.
Joanna was beside herself with shame and
fury her features were distorted with the
expression of the most devilish passions and
seemed no longer to have anything womanly
about them. Convnlsed with rage she ex-
claimed
"Ho, guards, seize him seize him -
= The bod 3 guards, who were still IN the hall,
prepared to execute the queens command, aud
their captain was already drawing near to the
Count de Valois /: but this was too much for
the king, who sincerely and deeply at
tacheQ TO his brother:
Whoever lays finger upon Messire de
yalois shall die this very day." he exclaimed.
This threat checked the advance of the
guards and De Yalois left the hall without
hindrance, in spite of the queens command.
Thus ended these scenes of treachery and
violence. Count Guy was forthwith impris.
oned at Compiegne his son Robert was con-
veyed to Bourges in ~Berri, and William to
Rouen in Normandy. The rest of the Flemish
mobiles were also kept in close custody, each at
q different place and were thus deprived of
the consolation they might have derived from
friendly companionship in misfortune.
OF all the company, Diederik di Vos was the
only one that got back to Flanders, thanks to
his palmer's coat, by means of which he es-
capped unrecognized.
Charles de Valois, with the aid of his friends
Immediately left the kingdom, and retired to
death of Philip the Fair. when Louis Hutin
had succeeded to the throne.
CHAPTER VI.
At the time of which we are writing, there
existed in Flanders two political parties vic.
lentIy opposed to each other, and who spared
pains to infict on one another every posi-
BILE injury. Thesgreat majority of the mobiles
and those in power had declared in favor OF
tie government as established by France and
thence had obtained with the people the ap
pellation of Lilyards, from the well known
| bearings of the royal arms. Why it was thai
they thus took part with their country's enc
mics, will presently appear.
For some years past, what with extravagan
l a.. -
ternal wars and distant crusades, the Flemisl
nobility had very generally fallen into pecuni
airy embarrassment, and had thus been com
PEELED to raise money, by granting exteosiv
privileges and immunities to the inhabitant
of their lordships, and especially to those c
the towns, for which they received very cor
siderable sums. Dearly the citizens had t
pay for their enfrauchisement, the sacrifc
was soon made good with ample interest. Th
commonalty, which had formerly belonge
with life and goods to the mobiles, felt that tn
sweat of their brows no longer flowed in vain
they elected burgermasters and councillor
and constituted municipal governments, wit
which their former lords had no power of il
reference whatever The different guilds C,
operated for the common interest, each undo
the direction of its dean, who was it's primo
pal officer
Freedom and security bore their usual fruit
from all the winds of heaven strangers mad
their way to Flanders, and commerce flourishe
with vitality that would have been imposs
BILE under the government of the feudal lord
Industry prospered, the people grew rich, an
in the pride of independence and power, ro
up more than once in arms against their form
masters. The mobiles, seeing their revenu
diminished and their supremacy in DANCE
strove by all MEANS fair and foul, 10 check IL
rising Importance of the commons, but Wi
very Indifferent success for the wealth of Il
towns enabled them to take the field on at lea
an equal footing, in order to maintain the Ii
critics they had won, and to hand them dow
unimpaired. In France things were far othe
: wise; Philip the Fair, indeed, had once in b
distress for money, summoned the deputies
tho third estate, that is to say, of the town
to the States General but any gain to Il
people from this step was but temporary, al
the feudal lords speedily recovered whatev
ground they had lost.
l What remained of the Flemish nobility HI