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


Morning Star and Catheie MeSS6#Set'i
Hnw ORLEANS. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 90 1874.
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you have freed your fatherland. 1 assure yon'
that if the Flemings do not wear new chains
within fourteen days, not all the devils in hell
will be able to rob them of their liberty but
tho new chains that are preparing make me
anxious and sad"
"Explain yourself more clearly, Messire
Diederik," )" cried Guy -" explain your meaning
and do not torture with enigmatical hints"
"weH, then, tell you plainly that sixty
two thousand Frenchmen are encamped before
Lille"
stSixty-two thousand" :" repeated the knights,
gazing in alarm on another.
"Sixty two thousand" echoed Breydei,
rubbing his hands for joy; what hne
aockp
Decopinck's head sank on his breast, and he
was lost in deep thought. Soon however, ne
had estimated the greatness of the danger, and
considered the means to avert it.
ST assure you, messires," continued Diederik
die Vos, "that they number more than thirty
two thousand horse, and at least as many loot.
They plumber and burn "a though they were
thereby rendering acceptable service to
heaven"
"Are these evil tidugs we'll founded !"
asked Guy anxiously; "has not he who told
you this deceived you, Messire Diederik' !"
HNo, no, noble Count saw it with my own
eyes; and last evening ate my supper in the
tent of the Seneschal Robert d'Artois. He
swore on his honor, in my presence, that the
last Fleming should die by his hand Consider
now what it behoves you to do. For myself,
shall buckle my armor without delay; and
if stand alone against these two and-sixty
thousand accursed Frenchmen. will not yield
an inch of ground; I, at least, will no longer
witness the slavery of Flanders"
Jan Breydel could not keep himself still
moment; his feet were in perpetual motion'
and he swung his arms in angry impatience.
Gould he but dare to speak; but reverence for
the lords who stood around restrained him
Guy and the other mobiles locked at one an
other in helpless dismay. fwo-and-thirty
Thousand well-equipped aud warlike horse
meni 1t was altogether impossible that they
could hope to offer q successful resistance to
force like this. In the Flemish army there
yere only the five hundred horsemen of Namur
whom Guy had brought with him; and what
could this handful avail against the frightfu
number of the foe.
"What is to be donef" asked Guy. "SPeak
how is our fatherlaud to be deliveredi"
Some were OF opinion Lnat Uney SuioN
themselves into Bruges, and there await th
dispersion of the French army from want o
provisions. Others wished to be let loose upo
the enemy, and to fall upon them that YER
night. Many projects were discussed, of whio
the greater part were rejected as dishonorsbl
and the remainder as impracticable.
Oeconinok stood with his head still bowe
In deep thought. He heard indeed, every PIT
pOsitiop that was made, but the attention
RAye did not hinder the course of his own r
Sections At last Guy addressed him, and asl
Cd what way of escape he saw from this critic
position.
"Noble Count" replied Deooninck, rsisir
his head, "were 1 command der in chief shou
begin operations thus should march wi
al speed with the guildsmen of Bruges up'
Courtrai, in order to expel thence the castelli
Van Lens. That fortress would no longer be
stronghold and place Of reserve for the Frenc
and we should have o secure shelter for o
women and children. as well as for ourseiv'
for the citadel of courtrai is strong, VIII
Brnges, in its present condition, could H
stand siege, but might easily be taken
storm. 1 would further dispatch mount
messengers into all parts of Flanders to 9
nounce the nearness Of the enemy, and to su
mon all the Clawards to Courtrai MessiI
van Gulick and Renesse should also fall ba
on the place. In this way, am sure, mol
Count, that the Flemish army would, will
four days, amount to thirty thousand pick
1nen of war, and then we need have no gr
fear of the French"
The knights listened in eager silence. I'll
could not help being astonished at the ext
ordinary man who had in few minu
thought out so able method of defence, q
given them such appropriate counsel. Thou
they had long known Deconncks high Out
ties, they could scarcely believe that they W
- tho endow ments of clothworker, n man Fl
tho class of the people.
"You have more wisdom than all of us
Eother," cried Diederik die Vos. Yes, yes
10 SO indeed are far stronger than
fnrp lRaf. ,