The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-01-03
aasrnlng Star and Catholic Messenger
a1W ORLEANS. SUNDAY, JANUARY 8. 1875.

most conspicuous.
The knights ate off silver dishes, and drank
tho choicest wines from cups of gold. Inc
goblets which were placed before Robert
sI,Artois and the two kings were larger and
zzsare costly than the rest; their coats OF arms
were cunningly craven upon them, and their
inns shone with rare and precious gems
During the meal, q lively conversation went on
nnongst the knights on the position ana
prospects of the expedition; and from It's tone
the fearful doom of Flanders might easily be
gathered
~Most undoubtedly" answered the general
In a ouestiou of De Chatillou, "they must be
All exterminated. Those cursed Flemlngs can
be tanned only by fire and sword ana why
should we let such wretched Doors liveI Let
NE make thorough end of them, messres'
that we may not again have to stain our
swords with their plebeian blood
s.Right ~ said John van Raneel, the Lilyard
"you say right, Messire d'Artois We must
mako no terms with the seditious rascals; they
are too rich, and would soon give us trouble
again. Already they refuse to recognize u.s.
who are sprung from noble blood, as their
xightful lords; they seem to think that the
wealth that tn ey gain by their industry makes
their blood nobler still. They have built
houses in Bruges and in Client which surpass
our castles in magnificence; and is not that an
insult to us certainly we will endure it no
longer"
aUnless we wish to have fresh outbreak
every day." remarked John van Cranendonck,
all the craftsmen must be put to death for
tho survivors will never be quiet; and there
fore am of opinion that Messire dArtois
ought not to spare one of them alive"
"And what are we to do when we have slain
all our vasselsf" asked the burly Hugo van
Arckel with q laugh. By my troth, we shall
have to plow our lands ourselves; goodly
prospect, truly|
aHap answered John van Raneel IL have
q good plan to remedy that. When Flanders
shall be cleansed of this stiffnecked race, l
moan to bring French peasants from Normandy,
and establish them on my lands"
"And go we shall make Flanders o genuine
province of Franco; that is q very good notion
and will mention it to the king, that he may
urpe the other feudal lords to take the same
course. pledge myself that it will not be a
all difficult"
Surely not, messire. DO you not think IL
bright and excellent plan 7"
"Yes yes and we will carry it out too; bu
lot us first begin by making clean sweep o
the ground"
The features of Rodolf de Nesle were work
ing with inward emotion. The conversation
greatly eispleased him, for his noble heart re
volted against such ferocity; and he exclaime
with ardor:
"But, Messire d'Artois, take leave to as
you-are we knights or not and is it seen
ly shat we should set to work after q wort
fashion than Saraceusi You are carrying yct
fe-ocity too far; and I assure you that "
Shnl1 become o scorn and q by-wood to tt
whole world. Let us attack aud defeat I'll
F1onniugs; that will be sufficient for ne. L.
us not call them q herd of Doors they wi
give us trouble enough and then, are they nj
in arms under the son of their prince 7"
sIConstable de Nesle," cried d'Artois in u
ger, "I know that you are exceedingly for
of these Flemings. 1t is love which does "
honor, of o truth 1t is your daughter, sur
ly, who has inspired your breast with SUI
amiable benevolence."
1sMessiie d'Artois," answered Rodolf, "a
though my daughter dwells in Flanders, tn
does not hinder me from being good a
true o Frenchman as any one here present,
my sword has given sufficient proof of thn
and shall have to demand q reckoning
your hand for the scornful words you ha
uttered before these knights. But what nj
lies nearest my heart is the honor of knig
hood itself; and tell you that you are /
- perillipg it by your conduct"
''What mean you l" exclaimed the genera
sis it not true that yea wish to spare thu
Hgl1itious traitors r Huve- they not deserved
die, since they have put to death seven tho
and Frenchmen without mercy ~
H:Beyond doubt they have deserved deaf
and therefore will avenge on them the hor
of the crown of my prince; but they sh
find their death only on the battlefield, q
with arms in their hands. appeal to tn
knights whether they deem it fitting that
ShOuld stain our swords by doing the work
executioners on poor unarmed people VII
they are peacefully ploughing their fields"
''He is right" exclaimed Hugo van Arcl
with loud and angry voice; 1--WE are fight
like the very Moors. The very proposal il