San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-04-12

hope that the Count would orer any
better terms, or that anybody would
come 10 their assistance. They must
decide quickly what they would do
and Philip said there were three
con. Sos open to them. First, if they
chose, they could wall up the gates OF
the town and die of starvation. Sec
mld!y, they could accept the Counts
Irer,,s, march ont with the ropes
,,rmid their necks, and take what
yer punishment the Count might put
upon them. If they should decide to
20 that, Philip said he would offer
linn self TO the Count to be hanged
first. Thirdly, they could get together
1000 OF their best nen, march to
Bruses, and fight the quarrel out.
The answer of the people was that
Philip should decide for them, and he
nj once said, Then we will fight
| The 5000 men were got together,
and on The 1st Of May they marched
out of town to win or lose the desper-
ate battle. The priests of the city
stood at the gates as the men marched
out, and prayed for blessings upon
/ ,hcm III. old men, the women and
the Children cried out, IF you lose
the battle you need not return to
Client, for you will find your families
dead N their homes"
The only food there was for these
5000 men was carried in five little
carts, while on another cart two casks
of wine were taken.
The next day Van Artevelde placed
his little army in line on the common
of Beverhoutsveld, at Oedelem, near
Brnges. There was a marsh in front
of them, and Van Artevelde protected
their flank by ratification consist
ing of the carts and some stakes
driven into the gound. He then sent
a messenger to the Count, begging him
to pardon the people of Gsent, and
having done this, he ordered his men
to 90 to sleep for the night.
At daybreak the next morning the
little army was reused to make final
preparations for the desperate work
before them. The priests exhorted
the men to fight to death, showing
them how uselessit would be for them
to surrender or run away, as they
we've sure to be put to death at any
rate. Their only hope for life was in
victory, and if they could not win
that, it would be better to die fighting
like men than to surrender and be put
to death like dogs.
After the exhortions were given,
seven gray friars said mass and gave
the Sacrament to all the soldiers.
Then the five carloads of provisions
and the two casks of wine were di-
vided among the men, for their last
breakfast. When. that meal was eaten,
the soldiers of Client had notan ounce
of food left anywhere.
Meantime the Count called his men
together in Bruges, and got them
ready for battle; but the people OF
Burgess were 50 sure of easily destroy
ing the little. Client army that
they would not wait for orders, but
out shouting and making
merry.
AS the column marched along the
road in this noisy fashion, the
troublesome burghers" of Ghentsud-
denly sprang upon them, crying,
6 Client! Ghent!"
The charge was so sudden and SO
fierce that the Bruges people gave way,
and fled in a panic toward the town,
with Van Arteveld' smen at their heels
in hot pursuit. The Counts regular
troops tried to make stand, but the
burghers of Client came upon them
O furiously that they too became pan
ic. stricken and fled. The Count him
self ran with all his might, and as
soon as he entered the city he ordered
the gates shut. He was so anxious
to save himself from the fury of Van
soldiers that he wanted to
close the gates at onceand leave those
of his own people who were still out
side to their fate. But it was already
too late. Van Artevelde's column
had followed the retreating crowd so
fast that it had already pushed its
head into town, and there was no
driving them back. The five thou
sand troublesome burghers," with
their swords in their hands, and still
CRYING" Client" swarmed into Bruges,
and quickly took possession of the
town. The counts army was utterly
routed and scattered, and the Count
himself would have been taken a pris-