The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-06-03
The BATTLE OF BRUGES.

h1hS HuIleTOuS uelallS respecting THIS
affair, and the escape of the Earl of Elan.
ders, from which the following account
is compiled:
The rebellious people of Client began
to perceive that the time in which ven.
geance was to be taken on them fol
their outrages was at hand. The Earl
of Flanders, with the help of his French
allies, had made himself master of the
surrounding country, and threatened an
attack upon Client. Unprovisioned and
unfinished with any adequate means
of holding out for q long defense, the
wretched inhabitants felt that they had
nothing to hope for but the clemency O.
their sovereign, against whom they had
committed so many insulting outrages
that they were almost objectionable.
Artaveld and his confederates saw that
they could not resist and, like men who
had played a desperate game, and knew
that there was a chance of their losing.
they did not hesitate to offer themselves
up TO appease the fury of the Earl, pro-
vided the safety of their countrymen
could be insured by that means.
The Earl received them angrily and
haughtily and, having heard their re-
quest, promised to send his answer 1t
was even more severe, than had been ex-
rected. He insisted that all the people
of Client, between the ages of 15 and 60,
should come barefoot, scarcely clothed,
and with each a rope about his neck,
half way between Client and Bruges,
and there submit themselves to his
mercy.
The summer day was done, and nj, the
people of Client were assembled, ex-
pecting the return of Artaveld. 1t was
almost night when he arrived. The
archers, and the white-hood men at arms,
who accompanied him, showed none of
the. gayety which commonly marked
through the market place, and Artaveld,
who appeared extremely detected, alight-
ed from his horse, and, entering the
Town House, soon afterward appeared.
in the balcony.
He related to the assembled citizens
the success of his errand, and the terms
which the Earl required them to submit
to-. The distress oflthe people, at this
announcement of their hard fate, was
deep and universal, and vented itself in
loud and heart-rending cries.
When the first burst of this emotion
had subsidized, Artaveld, having procured
silence, again addressed them.
Nothing remains for us, then, nv fell
low citizens, but to adopt a prompt reso-
luticn. You know that our provisions
are exhausted, and that we are 10000
souls, who for the last fifteen days have
not tasted n morsel OF bread. There are
three courses, and three only, which we
can fo-.ow. The first is to shut ourselves
up in Il town, to confess our sins, to
throw ourselves on our knees in the
churches, and there to await death ike
martyrs, to whom all human pity has
been denied. God viii surely have pity
on u souls, and even our foes will say
that we died the death of brave people.
The second is for all of US TO go, men,
women, and children, ~bare-footed, and
with ropes about our necks, on the road
to Bruges, there to implore the mercy
Of the Earl of Flanders. His heart can
not be so hard but that, when he sees
mis- people in that state, he must take
pity on them. l will be the first to offer
him my head to appease his rage. And
the last thing for us is to choose FIVE or
six thousand of the bravest, best-armed
men Our city holds, and to hasten to at
tack the Earl of Bruges."
Some of the populace who were near
est to Artaveld, asked. what would
you ADVISE us to do 81 The cry soon be-
vice of our tried friend"
Since it is 50, then, said Artaveld,
with increasing earnestness, and hi
voice growing louder with the excite
ment, this is the advice I give, and l
am ready TO do my utmost to carry it
into effect: Let us 90 with arms in our
hands, to find the Count, and teach him
that w are not the. tame and worthless
slaves he would make of US"
Aloud and unanimous shout was the
reply which the people made to. this
speech.
Return, then, to your homes, prepare
all things to effect this design, and We
will proceedto make a selection of such
Of you as are fittest to help i'll it."
The crowd dispersed at his bidding,
and every one bestirred himself in get
ting ready for the attack. The greater
part of the inhabitants followed the
troops to the gates to bid them farewell
and the soldiers. bidding them implore
the assistance and protection of Heaven,
set off upon their expedition.
On the following morning they halted
within a league of Bruges; and Artaveld
disposed the baggage in such a manner
US TO protect his troops from any sudden
attack. This man, in the course of the
extraordinary events of which the Low
Countries were then, and had for n long
ume been, the theater, had gained q
thorough knowledge of the people with
whom he had to deal. Without any OF
are uuNdIllISSS = .blCdllOn, lOT nt ndu
been originally n fisherman on the
Scheldt, Artaveld possessed a ready and
striking eloquence, which he knew how
to adapt perfectly to the capacities of his
hearers. He had taken care to provide
frinrs 10 attend II army, and he now
et them to preach to the soldiers. Their
sermons were of course directed to the
ensuing combat, and by drawing parallels
between tho people of Client and the
Israelites. assimilating the prosecutions
Of the Earl of Flanders TO those which
The ancient Jews suffered under Pharaoh,
they succeeded in rousing the indigna-
| ton of their hearers to the highest pitch.
| The holy sacrament was then admins
erred, and the whole army Joined in
prayer.
Arta Ie!d then addressed them, and al
ter recapitulating, in a forcible manner,
the wrongs and oppression they had suf-
fered under the Earls of Flanders, he
pointed TO the carts. "Yonder," he said,
lis all that we possess to feed 1000 hun
cry men that consumed, if you want
more you must win it with your swords.
Let us, however, share it now in peace
and brotherly affection" Rations were
then distributed, and the outposts form
ed, for the outposts brought news that
the Earl and his forces were at hand.
When the Earl learned that this army
from Client vas coming against him, he
believed that 1t was an act of mere des-
peration, and scornfplly ordered all his
forces to the attack, The people of Bru-
ges, who partook of this feeling, and who
were not sorry of an opportunity to
wreak their old luminosity against their
neighbors of Client, prepared to win
this, as th5y thought, easy victory. TIL,
more experienced military men would