in the punishment of those who were called traitors. Further bloodshed was thus for that day avoided, for though Arteveld had engaged in a desperate game, from which there was no withdrawing, and in which life was the stake, he had not been long enough accustomed to it to have acquired an appetite for blood.

The first business was to prepare for the arduous circumstances in which the city must now be placed, by establishing order and unanimity there, as far as laws could establish them. All private suits were suspended till peace should be concluded; all quarrelling, even if it proceeded not to blows and wounds, made punishable by forty days' imprisonment; and homicide by death. All gaming, all blasphemy was prohibited, and every person was enjoined to wear as a badge a white sleeve, bearing the words, God help us!' His wife's uncle had placed a garrison, on the count's part, in the castle of Hallwyn: Arteveld, on this occasion, acted in a way to raise his character with both parties; he attacked the castle and destroyed it, but allowed the garrison to depart unhurt. The Count meantime pursuing the wisest system of hostilities, daily straitened the city for provisions more and more, and though supplies still came from Holland and Zealand, the distress became ere long so pressing, that 12,000 men were sent forth, under Frans Ackerman, to beg for food. The rich had been called upon, and the monasteries, to bring forth their stores, and sell them at what, in early times, would have been the equitable price; but these resources were soon exhausted in so populous a city. The bakers were besieged and plundered by a starving multitude, and numbers were now dying for lack of food. Ackerman and his army went forth, not as marauders; they knew that the wishes of the people were with them: any supply that could have been obtained by force would have alienated their friends, and called forth resistance where they had already sufficient danger to encounter: they went, therefore, as supplicants appealing to humanity. The history of such times abounds with heroic incidents, for there is a certain heroism, of which the wicked, as well as the virtuous, are capable; but it is unexpected as well as delightful, to meet with any thing like a general manifestation of kindly and beneficent feelings. The Duke of Brabant, though strictly in league with Louis, allowed them to be supplied at Brussels for a certain time, and they remained in that vicinity three weeks, subsisting upon the charity of the Brabanters: at Louvain also they were relieved; the Bishop of Liege promising to use his mediation with the Count, gave them six hundred loads of wheat and flour for their suffering fellow-townsmen; and they brought back with them from this singular expedition fifteen days' supply for the people of Ghent. But this was but a respite, not a deliverance from

famine :

6

famine: they had no other enemy to combat, for the Count brought no armies against them; and their hopes were again directed to a negotiation, in which the hearty interest taken in their behalf by the neighbouring princes, would have given them some prospect of success, if Louis had been less immitigable in his disposition. Deputies from all the towns of Flanders met at Tournay, Arteveld being one of the twelve from Ghent as he went out of the gate the people fell on their knees before him, saying, Philip, return with peace upon any terms! Any peace will be joyfully received by your miserable country.' Their minds were now subdued to their situation, and the deputies petitioned only for life every thing else,' they said, they placed at the Count's disposal; he might order whom he would into perpetual banishment, or for any shorter term that in his goodness he might please to appoint: they requested only that lives might be spared!'-The Count did not appear in person at the assembly; he remained at Bruges, and sent from thence his final answer by the prior of Harlebeke it was this,—that all the inhabitants of Ghent, from fifteen years upwards, male and female, without exception, should come out of the city bare-headed and bare-footed in their shirts, and with ropes around their necks; and in that plight proceed half way to Bruges, where he would meet them, and then determine upon life or death, for every thing must be left at his mercy. Terrible as such conditions were, the mediators advised them to accept them, and encouraged them with hopes of appeasing by his unremitted intercession the anger of the Count. Those only could be expected to suffer who had most displeased him ; the others would assuredly obtain mercy,-which if it were now refused, might not be again attainable. Philip Van Arteveld, speaking for his companions, ended the conference by declaring, that their powers could not warrant them in assenting to such conditions: they must return to Ghent, and if the good people of that city were contented with the terms, they would not on their own part offer any opposition to the acceptance.

As soon as the deputies appeared before the gates, the people crowded about them, looking for life or death from their report. Ah! dear Lord Philip Van Arteveld, give us comfort,' they cried; ⚫ tell us that you have sped well!' He answered not a word, but, with the rest of the deputation, passed on in a mournful silence, which sufficiently indicated the ill success of their embassage. Once or twice only he spoke, requesting them to disperse peaceably for that day, and assemble on the morrow in the market-place to hear the report. That night he consulted with Vanden Bosch, who expressed no surprise at the Count's severity, but thought rather that he was well-advised, and would do wisely if he exter

minated

minated the whole people, for one and all were implicated in the cause of these commotions. Now then,' said he, it remains to see whether there are wise men and brave men in Ghent, for, in a few days this will be the proudest city in all Flanders, or the most abased.' On the morrow, being Wednesday, the people assembled in dolorous expectation, and Arteveld, from a window of the market-house, related the result of his deputation, simply and faithfully; except that, putting his own interpretation upon the Count's intention, he said, that for aught he could perceive, the greater part of the people who should then surrender themselves at discretion, must expect to die in prison, or by the course of justice. See now,' said he, whether you will accept of peace upon these conditions!' It was a piteous thing then to hear the multitude, men and women alike, young and old, break out into lamentations, and to see them wring their hands, for the love of those whom they held dearest. But at Arteveld's voice they were silent. Good people of Ghent,' he said, here ye are, the greatest part of the townsfolk assembled, and ye have heard what I have related. There is no remedy, and your counsel must speedily be taken; there are thirty thousand mouths in this city which have not tasted bread for the last fifteen days. One of three things we must choose: the first is, that we shut ourselves up within these walls, and close our gates, and make confession faithfully and devoutly, and then retire into the churches and convents, and there expire, being absolved and penitent, as martyrs, upon whom man will have no compassion. God will then have mercy upon our souls; and wherever our story shall be told, it will be said that we have died valiantly, and like a true people. Or we must go, men, women, and children, bare-footed, bare-headed, in our shirts, and with halters round our necks, to meet my Lord the Count of Flanders. His heart is not so hard, and obstinate, when he shall behold us in such plight, but that he must be softened, and have mercy upon his people: and to take away his wrath I will be the first to offer him my head, contented to die for my fellow-townsmen. The third course is this: that we choose out five or six thousand of the ablest and best armed men, and proceed speedily to assail the Count at Bruges, and give him battle. If we are slain in this enterprise, we shall at least die honourably, and God will have mercy upon us; and the world will say that valiantly and faithfully we have maintained our cause. But if in this battle we be victorious, and our Lord God, who, in old times, gave such power into the hands of Judas Maccabeus, duke and master of the army of his people the Jews, that the Syrians were discomfited and slain,-if, I say, the same Lord God shall grant us this grace, we should be every where the

most

most honoured people that hath ever reigned upon the earth since the Romans. Choose now, which of the three ye will, for one of them must be chosen.'

He was not answered by any general acclamation, the people were too far spent in spirit to give utterance to their feelings, or indeed to make their choice. Those only who stood nearest him replied, Ah, dear sir! we have good confidence in you; choose you for us, and what you determine, that we will do.' 'By my faith, then,' said Arteveld, I am for going arms in hand to seek the Count! we shall find him at Bruges; and the pride of that people, and of those who are about him night and day taking counsel against us is such, that he will come out to fight us. If, by God's will, and his grace, the field should be ours, we are delivered for ever more, and shall be in the greatest honour of all people in the world; and if we fall, God will have pity on our souls; and for those who are left in Ghent, the Count our lord will have compassion upon them.' The bravest course in danger is generally the best; in this case it was evidently so: the people consented with one accord, and Arteveld bade them go to their houses and make ready, for on the morrow he would set forth, and in five days it would be known whether the issue were for life or death. Immediately the city gates were closed, and no person was allowed either to go out or enter in. The constables of every parish went from house to house to select the ablest men for this awful, but not forlorn service. The number did not exceed 5000. They took with them about two hundred carts with artillery and ammunition, four only of bread and two of wine, poor store for 5000 men; but there was not provisions for two days in the city. The resolution with which they set forth inspired a kindred feeling in those who were left. You know,' said the people, 'whom ye are leaving; but think not to return here, unless ye come back with honour! for no sooner shall tidings reach us of your overthrow, than we will set fire to the city, and destroy ourselves with it.' 'Well said,' was the reply! 'Pray to God for us, we have need that he should help us, and you also.' On the Thursday afternoon they began their march, and halted for the night a league from Ghent, not touching their provisions, but taking what the country could supply. They marched all the following day, sparing their stores in the same manner, and having arrived within a long league of Bruges, there they took up a position to wait for the attack which they hoped would be made upon them. There was a wide marsh in front: the flanks they protected with their artillery, and their carts were drawn up there; in the rear they were exposed; but they had less apprehension on that side, because it was nearest their own territory: however, they stationed there the flower of their force.

The

The next day, Saturday the 3rd of May, was a great holiday in Bruges, the greatest in the year. There was a vial preserved there in the chapel of the Sangreal, containing what was believed to be a portion of our blessed Saviour's blood. According to the tradition of that city, it had been brought from the Holy Land by Count Theodore of Alsace, in the twelfth century, having been treasured up by Nicodemus when the body of our Lord was taken from the Cross; but another and not more fabulous legend says, that it proceeded from a miraculous crucifix. In a former time of troubles, when the peasantry of the Pais de Waes had risen against the extortions of the nobles, and suffered a severe defeat, the calamity was said to have been preceded by the congelation of this blood. There was no such omen on this beautiful May morning, when Bruges was filled with visitors from all the surrounding country, and from the neighbouring states, the friends and relatives of the inhabitants being accustomed always to make their visits at this festival, when the relic was carried in procession. Amidst their festivity, came tidings that the Ghentese were at hand. Now then is the end of the war come,' said Count Louis, when this was told him. A foolish and outrageous people! See how evil fortune has brought them to their destruction! Yet are they valiant,' he added, 'for they have chosen to die by the sword rather than by hunger.' Three men at arms were sent to reconnoitre them, and the people of Bruges took arms and prepared to go forth, not as to a battle, but to an execution, in such contempt did they at that time hold any force which could be sent against them from the hostile city. Meantime, mass was performed at daybreak in seven parts of Arteveld's little camp at the same time, and a sermon preached to each congregation by so many Friars Minorite, who accompanied the army. The sermons are said to have been an hour and a half long, as if it had been Arteveld's intention that his men should not, for any interval of time, be left unemployed and unexcited, lest their spirit should fail. The friars encouraged them by the example of the Israelites who were delivered from bondage; and represented Count Louis and the people of Bruges as the Pharaoh and the Egyptians by whom they were held in servitude, and from whom they were soon to deliver themselves, or perish. They reminded them also of Judas Maccabeus and his brethren, whose example, it may be feared, has more often been effectually applied than that of our Saviour and his disciples. The people then confessed, and were absolved, and about three-fourths of them received the sacrament. After this, Arteveld harangued them from a spot of elevated ground: he was an eloquent speaker, (bien enlangagé et moult bien savoit parler, et bien luy avenoit,)— and certainly no speech could ever be delivered or heard with a sincerer