The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-01-03
THE
LION OF FLANDERS;
BATTLE OF THE GOLDEN SPURS,
BY HENDRIX CONSCIENCE.
CONTINUED. IL
CHAPTER XXI.

| The French general had pitched his camp in
of Lille, and the tents of his countless warriors
| covered space of more than two miles in ex-
| tent. The breastwork which surrounded the
host might have led q distant spectator to
imagine that he saw before him fortified
city, had not the neighing horses, the cries
of soldiers, the smoke ascending from their nu-
merous fires, and the flntteripg of thousand
flags, betrayed the presence of military
camp. The part assigned to~the mobiles and
| knights was easily distinguished -hy the
| splendor and costliness of its standards and
embroidered banners; and while their velvet
pavilions glowed with every color of the rain
| bow, the rest of the camp showed only the or
dinary tents of canvas, or huts of straw. 1t
might have been matter of wonder that such
| an enormous host did not perish of hunger, for
in those days armies seldom took stores with
them; yet they were supplied in such over
flowing abundance, that corn was suffered to
lie about in the mud, and the most valuable
articles of food were everywhere trampled
under foot. The French took the best means
Mt once to supply their own wants and to
deepen the hatred with which the Flemings
regarded them. They secured the country day
by day i'll large bands, plunderiDg and laying
waste all sides; for the furious soldiers
we'll understood the wishes of their general
Robert d'Artois, and their way was tracked by
countless deeds of violence and devastation.
AS n symbol of the sweeping desolation with
which they threatened Flanders, they had tied
small brooms to the points of their spears;
AID their conduct amply redeemed their
pledge, for in all the southern part of the
country there remained not q house, not
castle, not q monastery, scarcely tree stand
ipg-all were rutblessly razed and destroyed.
Neither sex nor age afforded any protection
against the fury of the soldiers; women and
children were pitilessly butchered, and their
bodies thrown ont to the birds of prey.
Tins the French commenced their expedi-
tiop. In the midst of their ferocious course,
no fear or apprehension of defeat occurred to
them, SO confidently did they rely their
overwhelming numbers. Flanders was doomed
to memorable destruction they had sworn
it. On the same morning on which Guy bad
bestowed on Deconinck and Breydel the need
of their loyal good service, the French general
had invited his most iilustrious knights to a
sumptuous banquet. The tent of the Count
d'Artois was of unusual length and breadth,
and DIVIDED into many COMPARTMENTS Lnere
were rooms for the knights of his suite, rooms
for the squires and siandard-bearers, rooms for
purposes, rooms for all the various
Dersonages of his train. In the middle was q
spacious saloon, capable of containing large
lumber of knights, and used alternately for
.evelry and for the deliberations of the council
# war. The silk with which the tent was
covered was powdered with aeNrs de-lysj at
he entrance hung the shield Of the house Of
Irtois, and outside, on small eninence,
waved the royal standard of France. The
aIoou was hung with rich tapestry, and ,
walled q palace in msgnifcence. ,
At the upper end of the table sat Count
.obert d'Artois. He was still in tho flower
nd full vigor of life, and a scar. which ,
reversed his right cheek, at once gave evil !
ence of bis bravery and impaired to his ,
ountenance a more forbidding expression. :
Though his face was disfgured by deep !
-rinkles and stained with dark spots, yet his ;
yes cleaned like FIRE under his dark eyelashes
18th manly Ardor and energy. His manner !
-aa hazsb, and denoted tho feree and unre- Z
,assng man cf was.