The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1874-12-20

sires William van Gulick, the priest, aud John
van Renesse, returned from Cassel. Five hun
dred knights, four hundred zeelanders, and
another detachment of the men of Bruges,
marched with them into tho camp.
And now from every part the knights and
warriors who had been summoned had arrived.
Men of all arms were ranged under the COM
mand of Guy. 1t is impossible to express the
Joy which filed the hearts of the Flemings
during these days; for now they saw that
their fellow-countrymen had not degenerated,
and that their fatherland still counted loyal
| and valiant sons in every quarter. Already
| oue-and-twenty thousand men lay encamped,
fit and ready for battle, under the banner of
| the Black Lion; and their number was being |
hourly increased by small renforcements.
Although the French had army of sixty |
two Thousand men, of which the half was
cavalry, yet not the slightest fear found en-
trance into the hearts of the Flemings. In
their enthusiasm they would cease their work,
and embrace one another, exchanging words of
confidence and triumph, as though there were
nothing that could rob them of their victory.
Towards evening, as the laborers were re-
turning to their tents, the cry, FLANDERS and
the Lion!' arose anew over the walls OF
Courtrai. All ran back to the entrenchments
|
did their eyes range freely over the ramparts,
than they sent back loud and joyous answer
ing shout. Six hundred horsemen, all cased in
steel, sprang into the trenches amidst deafen-
ing acclamations. They came from Namur;
and Count John, the brother of Robert de Be-
tbune had sent them into Flanders The
rival of these horsemen greatly raised the
. spirits and increased the Joy of the Flemings;
- for it wasin cavalry that they were particularly
. deficient: Although they knew right we'll that
u the men of Namur could not understand one
. word they said, they overwhelmed them with
Il words of greeting and welcome, and brought
o them wine in profusion and when the foreign
% warriors saw this friendly reception, they felt
~ ~ themselves animated by like spirit of affec-
=. - ton and they swore they would sacrifice both
- blood and life for their good hosts.
Ghent alone had sent neither message nor
"a contingent to Courtrai. 1t had been long
"a known that the Lilyards were very numerous
Ia there and that the governor stanch ally
, of the French. But nevertheless, seven hun
"A dred French mercenaries had been slain by the
"a townsmen and John Borluut had promised his
,e aid The matter was doubtful, and 80 the
r. Flemings did not venture openly to accuse
ar their brethren of Ghent Of disloyaty; never
70 theless, they entertained great suspicion oi
r them, and not seldom gave free expression tc
o their displeasure. In the evening, when The
-. Gun had already disappeared more than an houl
ha behind the village of Moorseele, the laborer
-, had dispersed themselves amongst the tents
Here and there was still heard a song, inter
n, rupted at intervals by the clapping of hand
N. and the chink of drinkng-glasses, and tn
~ concluding verse of which was caught up ant
. enthusiastically repeated by multitude o
mt | voices. In other tents was heard q confuse
tba murmur, which, when one listened attentivelJ
ada resolved itself into an interchange of encoul
,an agements and exhortations. In the midst
h.. the camp at little distance from the tents,
,s large fire was blazing, which illuminated
,v portion of the entrenchments with its rudd
hin glare. About ten men were appointed to kee
and it burning, who, from time to time, thre
in largo branches of trees upon it; and the
ON. would be heard the voice of the captain, ga
i'm ing "Gently, my men, gently; lay tt
ral branches caretoAly, ana 10 hot drive 'he spar
red towards the camp"
few steps from this fire was the tent of Il
,ere camp sentnels. 1t was q covering of OK hide
,o,- the framework of which rested eight ma
IN, sive beams the four sides were open, so tn
,da it commanded the camp in all directions.
rose 1t was Jan Breydels duty to keep wat
Ioor this night with fifty of his butchers they 8
men on little wooden stools round a table under t
en- roof, which protected them from the dew a
rior the rain; their axes shone in their hands Ii
yere weapons of glowing flame. The sentnels tn
who had sent out were seen il the gloom, stridi
ngst slowly backwards and forwards. large ca
sires of wine and some tin cans stood on the tabl
lem, and although drinking was not forbidden, o
deg could see that they drank with unusual me
van Grafton, for they raised the cans but seldom
had their lips. They laughed and ohatted plei
gent antly together, to vile away the time; ca
kyn. telling what splendid blows he meant to
light charge on the Frenchmen in the coming bait
we're "Well," said Breydel, "they may say,
,ame they will, that the Flemings not go
heir men as their fathers, now that such a camp
tl,;s hna lnor not tnnathar hu MI