The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-12-27

his very countenance. Look you, my lord
1 will wager my head, that If You would only |
allow Breydel to do what he likes, he and his
butchers would cut these two and-sixty thous-
and to pieces just as easily as they would NOW
down a field of corn. Be of good courage
God and Messirs st. George will be our aid.
But, pray you excuse me, Lord Guy; there
are my men-I must leave you for q moment"
The men of Client had now reached the
Groningen Place; they were wearied and COW
cred with dust, for they had made q forced
march under the burning sun. Their weapons
were of various kinds and amongst them
were all the classes of troops we have already
described. About forty mobiles rode in ad-
| vance, for the most part friends of the old
warrior, John Borluut and in the midst of
the host foated the banner of Client with its
| white Lion Then the men of Bruges, who
| felt how unjustly they had reproached their
| brethren of Client, shouted again and sgain
"Welcome, brothers, welcomed! Hurrah for
Ghentn'
In the meantime John Borluut drew up his
| men in front of the left wing of the square; he
| wished to make a good display of them, that
| the men of Bruges might that they did not
yield to them in love of their common father
| land. At Guys command he then left the
camp and entered Courtrai, that he might give
his men the repose and refreshment which they
SO much needed. AS the men of Client
had withdrawn, John van Renesse advanced
into the square and cried
"To arms Silence!"
| The group in the middle of the square re-
turned to its former position every one held
his peace at the command of Messre van
Renesse, and the attention of all was fixed on
the heratd, who again sounded his trumpet
thrice, and then proceeded to read with loud
voice:
"We, Guy of Namur, in the name of our
Count and brother Robert de Bethune, the Lion
of Flanders, to all who shall read or hear this
our proclamation, greeting and peace. In con-
sideration of the good and loyal service rem
dered to the whole country of Flanders, and to
, ourselves, by Master Deconinck and Master
Breydel of Bruges,-we, willing to bestow on
them, in presence of all our subjects, token
of our grace and overwhelmingly, moreover
especially to requte their noble-hearted love
of our atherland in such wise as is meet and
fitting, that their loyal services may be hello
in everlasting remem brance and whereas ou
Count and fai her, Guy of Flanders. hath there
4 to empowered us, we announce and declar
f that Peter Decouinck, Dean of the Clothwork
Q ers, and Jan Breydel Dean of the Butchers
1 both of our good city of Bruges, and their de
scendants after them for all time, sh all be, AM
O shall be held to be, of noble blood, and eDjo
y all the rights and privileges appertaining t.
l. mobiles in our land of Flanders. And in orde
3 that they may be enabled to support this dig
10 ity honorably, we assign to each of them one
1t twentieth part of our good city of Bruges, fo
70 the mainte of his house,"
10 Long the herald had made an end, b
is voice drowned ia the joyous exclamation
of the Cloth orkers and Butchers. The gre,
lie favor conferred on the deans was, as it weI
Id the reward Of their bravery, an hon
c. which reflected upon their guilds. Hs
ne not the loyalty and patriotism, of the dea,
been so well known, their elevation to IL
rank of mobiles would undoubtedly have be-
received with suspicion and dispeasure, as
a. stratagem of the nobility. They would ha'
of said !; 4" These feudal lords are depriving
Id the assertors of our rights, and are seduoil
rs our leaders by these manifestations of favor
ey In any other case the suspicion would not ba
ed been unfounded for men, for the most pal
ire are easily perverted aud seduced by the 10
of honor. Hence it is not to be wondered
ers that the people cherished bitter batr
IL against such of their brethren as allow
themselves to be thus raised in dignity; f
ir- instead of noble-minded friends of the poop
they became, for the most part, fawnipg q
or craven fatterers, and upheld the power
which they owed their elevation. They KIN,
ng that with it they must stand or fall for tn
rt- saw that the people whom they had forsak
ted regarded them with adherence and conten
as deserters and apostates.
ire But the guilds of Bruges reposed too lofty
/ confidence in Deconinek and Breydel to adu
ave of reflections such as these at that momel
ex- Their deans were now noble; they had n,
at two men who were admitted to the councils
their Count, who dared look the enemies
ger their rights in the face and oppose their la
rds less usurpations They felt that their lnfiueI
no. was thus greatly increased, and testified
on repeated cries the rapturous joy they felt.
och last the tumult subsidized, and their gestu
the and beaming countenances alone betrayed tn