NEW SCHOOL OF HISTORY IN FRANCE. 387 



1 OW9 : Comrades in arms, my hope is, that to-morrow we shall have 

 a busy day, for the king of France is here at Rosebeque eager for 

 the fray. Behave as loyal men. Be not dismayed : for recollect 

 that we are to defend our good right and the freedom of Flanders. 

 The English, it is true, have not succoured us. What then ! we 

 shall have the more honour ; for, if they had come, they would have 

 deprived us of our renown. The whole flower of France is with the 

 king, and he has left none behind. Tell the soldiers to kill all and 

 grant no quarter. The king only must be spared, for he is but a 

 boy and may be pardoned. We will take him to Ghent and teach 

 him Flemish. All others dukes, earls, barons whatever their rank, 

 kill all. The commons of France will not be displeased with us, 

 nay, I am well assured that they willjbe glad if not a single one 

 returns. The captains assured Artavelde of their good will, and he 

 retired to his tent with his mistress, a damsel of Ghent, whom he had 

 brought with him to the field. While the general was asleep, this 

 young girl, not being able to close her eyes in slumber, went out of 

 the tent to gaze on the starry heavens. She beheld in the distance 

 the flames and smoke of the French camp fires, and thought she 

 heard on the eminence that separated the two armies a clang of 

 arms and the old war-cry, " Monjoie et St. Denis." Terrified, she 

 awakened Artavelde, who hastily dressed, took his battle-axe, con- 

 vinced himself of the fact, and caused his trumpet to be sounded. 

 The Flemings awoke and crowded to his tent for orders. He asked 

 whether they had heard the sound on the hill. Several captains 

 answered in the affirmative, and that they had sent scouts to recon- 

 noitre, but had found nothing, and that therefore they had been un- 

 willing to disturb the repose of the camp by a vain alarm. All re- 

 garded it as a prodigy, and that the spirits of darkness were rejoicing 

 in the prospect of the morrow and the prey they would obtain. The 

 Flemish were dismayed by the supernatural occurrence, and lost 

 all confidence. 



" The morning opened with a thick fog, which veiled the two armies, 

 and prevented each from seeing the other. Artavelde soon left his 

 encampment, and advanced on the hill at the head of the men of 

 Ghent, on whom he placed more reliance than on the rest. Each 

 town had its banner, and its soldiers were dressed in its peculiar 

 uniform. The bands of trades carried each their ensigns, all well 

 armed in iron head-pieces, buff jerkins, and vombraces, bearing 

 spears, heavy cutlasses, and maces. Artavelde ordered them to 

 march in close order against the enemy, as at the battle of Bruges, 

 which had so inflated their pride, and to intertwine their arms so as 

 not to allow the enemy to penetrate their ranks. A page marched 

 near Artavelde and led a fleet charger, which he was to mount in 

 order to be the first in the pursuit of the routed French. 



" The French were also in high spirits, and the constable, approach- 

 ing the king and raising his visor, said, " Sir, rejoice. These people 

 are ours. Our yeomen would be enough to beat them." " Forward 

 then," said the king, " in the name of God and St. Denis." The 

 sacred banner of the oriflamme was unfurled. The only battle be- 

 tween Christians in which it had floated. But the pope Clement of 



