The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-09-06
THE
LION OF FLANDERSI
OR THE
BATTLE OF THE GOLDEN SPURS.
BY HENDRIX CONSCIENCE.
BY HENDRIX CONSCIENCE.
PREFACE.

The work here presented for the rst time t,
the English reader has been long popular
throughout the north of Europe, and has ever
penetrated, in two translatons, into Italy. II
is one of the most original and valuable pro
| auctions of that revival of Flemish literature
| which dates from the revolution of 1880. II
appeared in 1888, and at once raised its author
to the highest rank as o writer of fiction.
Its subject is well chosen from the heroic
period of Flemish history, when the whole
nation arose as one man to throw off the op-
pressive and hateful yoke of France. Flanders
was the England of the thirteenth century. 1t
then comprised the south of Zealand, part OF
| the French department du Nord and the whole
of the Pas de Calais Artois 1t was the
centre of the commerce and industry of the
north of Europe: and Bruges was no unworthy
rival of Venice. It's cities were opulent and
magnificent but divided by hereditary quar-
rels and clashipg interests. There were feuds
between city and city, feuds between the great
commercial cities and the country towns, feuds
of classes, feuds of trades, feuds between the
burghers and the nobility, feuds between the
people and their counts.
Thus wealthy, Flanders was, as Michelet
says, the natural temptation of both France
and England; and thus weak, it could offer
but slight resistance to the attacks Of these
rsracions governments. In the quarrels be-
tween Edward l aud Philip-le-Bel, Guy de
Dampierre, Count of Flanders, had taken part
with England, and had formed, in conjunction
with some other of the great fiefs of France, =
formidable league against their suzsrain
Philip invaded Flanders, accompanied by
do nd
d'Artois, his cousin. When Edward was re-
called to make head against Wallace, the
Flemngs became an easy prey Their country
was occupied by French troops; and the con-
querers proceeded to divide their rich spoil.
IL is at this date, about 1898 that the tale
opens.
PhiUp-le-Bel brought his queen to see the
rich and famous cities of Client and Bruges
and De Cbatillon was left as governor general, |
with q charge to curtail by degrees their liber-
ties and rights, and to ''cure them of their |
proud and insolent wealth." This charge he !
executed with more seal and good will than |
prudence; and NJ. Conscience paints very |
vividly the slowly gathering anger of the people /
at first to itself in secret, then |
bursting forth hero and there in resistance to
ome act of more fragrant oppression and ex-
ortion-at length triumphiug in q wild and
irresistible explosion, in the massacre of
3ruges and the bloody victory of Courtrai. 1t
a subject full of dramatic interest, and it is
andled with singular originality, vigor, and
act. On the one side, the brilliant
Rivalry of PhiIip-le-Bel ehatillon and Raoul
10 Nesle, Robert d'Artois, the Counts of Tan
awhile and Dreux, and all the great historical
ames of France, pouring into FLANDERS, secure
f-any easy victory, and counting on an
buudant harvest of booty; on the other side
re the simple, unaderned leaders of the indus I
~ CT Flanders, butchers and brewers, cloth
'ol kers aud locksmiths, craftsmen of every
ind, men whom the French regarded with .
lpercilious scorn, but strong in the sense Of
ghteous cause, burning with indignation
yaiDst the oppressor and alien, all their 9
overs ELECTED and enlarged by the grandeur .
I the struggle, and all their feuds and rival
es for q time fused in the glow of q common 9
atriotism aud q common thirst of revenge. 9
he author has thrown q remarkable dignity ?
round these popular leaders. Peter do COninck '
IpecialIy stands Out--and the details Of his
,araoter are historieal-as the head and sOul ,
the whole movement: prudent and wary, q
IL Of courage and confidence, noble end die .
terested, . man o. one passion and one aim, s