The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-10-11
Mernlne Star and Catholic Messenger.
aHW oRLsANs sUNpAY, ocToBER !, Is7..

INV ORLEANS, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4. 1874.
that daughter of Messire de Bethune int
Franco: she seems full of Flemish pride ant
ebstinacy and shall be pleased to have he
Mt my court. Enough said lyon understand
me. Tomorrow leave this accursed land
hsye had more than enough of their iusolence
Raoul dc Nesle goes with rs you remain here
M Governor-general of Flanders, with full
power to rule the land at your discretion, and
accountable only to ourselves for your fidelity"
"Ssy, rather, at tho discretion of my royal
niece" interposed De Chatillon, in tone of
fiattery.
"Be it So" said Joanna a am gratided by
your devotedness. Twelve hundred men-at-
arms shall remain with you TO support your
authority. And now it is time for us both to
20 to rest, my fair uncle; SO 1 wish you good
night"
"May all good angels watch over your ma
jestyp said De Chatillon, with profound
bow; and with these words no left the cham
Der of the evil-mnded queen.
CHAPTER VIII.
The city magistrates and their friends the
Lilyards had gone to great expense about the
ceremonial of the royal entry. The triumphal
arches and scafoldings, and the precious stuffs
with which they were adorned, had cost large
sums of money; besides which, a quantity of
the best wine had been served ont to each of
tho kings men-at-arms. AS oil this had been
done by order of tho magistrates, and conse-
quently had to be paid for out of the common
chest, it had been regarded by the citizens
with the greatest dissatisfaction.
All the machinery of the pageant bad long
been removed; De Chatillon was at Courtrai,
and the royal visit almost forgotten, when
ono morning, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, q
erisr appeared before the town-hall, at the
nsual place of proclamation, and by sound of
trumpet called the people together. As soon
rs he cav q sufficient number of hearers assem-
bled, he produced parchment from case
which hung ut his side, and began to read
aloud:
SIT is hereby made known to each and
every citizen, that the worshipful the magis.
trates have ordered as follows, that is to say
THAT an extraordinary contribution be
levied for covering tho expenses of the entry
of our gracious prince, King Philip.
That each and every inhabitapt of the
city pay thereto the sum of eight greats Flemish,
to be paid head by head, without distinction
age.
"That the tax-gatherers collect the same
on Saturday next, from door to door and that
snch as by force or fraud refuse or evade pay
mont of the same be compelled thereto in due
course Of law"
Those of the citizens who heard this procla-
nation looked at one another with astonish-
ment, and secretly murmured at go arbitrary
an cxaction. Among these were several
journeymen of the Ciothworkers' Company,
who, without delay, hastsned to make the
matter known to their Dean.
Doconinck received the intelligence with
extreme displeasure. Suoh violent blow
struck at the rights and liberties of the COM
Monaity flled him with mistrust rs to what
might follow, for he saw in il first step to-
wards the despotism under which, with the
aid of France, the mobiles were endeavoripg
again to bring the people; and he determined
70 defeat these first attempts either by force or
policy. He well knew that any opposition
might easily be fatal to him, for the foreign
armies still occupied Flanders; but no consid-
aration could check his patriotic zeal he had
devoted himself body and soul to the veal Of
his native city. Sending Immediately for the
0ompapy's beadle, he thus commissioned him
TO round instantly to all the masters, aud
sammon them in my name to meet forthwith
As tho hail. Let them lay all else aside, and
delay not moment, for the matter is Urgent
The Clothworkers' Hall was spacious
buiiding with round gable. A single large
window in front, over which stood the arms of
the company, gave light to the great room on
tho fret floor; over the wide doorway stood
st. George and the dragon, artistically out in
Stone. In all other respects the front was
without ornament or pretension it would
have been difficult in fact to guess from its
appearance that it was hero the wealthiest
guild in Flanders held its meetings, for it was
1hr excelled in magnifcence by many of the
houses around it.
Notwithstanding the considerable number of |
largo and small chambers which the building
contained, not one of them was empty or I'M
employed. In spacious room on the second
story were to be seen tho masterpieces, or |
specimens of work which every one had
to show before he could be admitted to the