404 ^^* -D* ^254- 



of the ftrangers ftiould be revenged by their fuppofed conforts. As none 

 of the people of that part of the country underftood the language of 

 the foreigners, we have no means of even guefling at the country to 

 which thofe fliips belonged. [M. Paris, p. 882.] 



1254 The people of all ranks in Flanders, from the prince to the 



meanefl peafant, were enriched by their manufadures. Their earl 

 Ferdinand was fo opulent, that when John king of England and his al- 

 lies were planning the conqueft and partition of France, it was agreed, 

 that the title of king of France fhould be given to the earl of Flanders, 

 becaufe he had contributed the greateft proportion of men, and fup- 

 ported the whole army with his Flemilh gold. [P. Mmyl. p. 196.] But 

 the profperity of Flanders now fufFered a fevere check from a war, 

 which was kindled up on the continent by the rival fons of the countefs 

 Margaret, who is faid by fome authors to have had two hufbands at once, 

 like another Helen, wherein prodigious numbers of French, Germans, 

 and Flemings, were flain, above 30,000 Flemings having fallen in one 

 battle at Walcheren. So great a flaughter of the makers and confumers 

 of woollen cloth produced a flagnation of the manufadure, the confe- 

 quence of which was feverely felt in England, efpecially by the Cifter- 

 cian monks, apparently the greateft breeders of ftieep in the kingdom, 

 being encouraged thereto by the exemption from duties, claimed by 

 their order, [See Hemmgford, L. ii, c. 72 — W. Nnvbrig. L. iv, c. 38] who 

 were this year difappointed of their ufual lales of wool to the Flemings. 

 \M. Paris, p. 886. — Meyeri Ami. Fland.f. 77 a, ed. 1561.] Some heavy 

 duties laid upon the commerce of Flanders were probably alfo a con- 

 fequence of the war : but thefe the countefs lightened upon the re- 

 monftrance of the citizens of Hamburgh. [Lambecii Orig. Hainb. L. ii, 



^- 37-] 



- 1255 The feeble government of the emperor William brought the 



imperial authority into contempt. The laws were negleded : public 

 tranquillity was deftroyed : the nobles of the imperial demefne and the 

 duchy of Swabia iiifefted the highways with robbery and murder, and 

 defolated the country. In vain did feveral of the moft powerful princes 

 attempt to fupprefs their atrocities, till the archbilhops of Mentz, Triers, 

 and Cologne, together with the princes of the Rhine, entered into a con- 

 federacy with above fixty cities, fituated on both fides of the Rhine from 

 Zurich to Cologne, on purpofe to carry on a perpetual war againft the 

 dlfturbers of the public tranquillity, and to abolifli the unjuft local tolls, 

 recently eftablifhed all-over the country. The confederacy under the 

 name of the League of the Rhine, was fmdioned by the approbation of 

 the emperor William, and confirmed in a general aflembly of the allies 

 held at Oppenheim : and they afterwards determined to hold an affembly 

 once in every three months in order to deliberate on the interefts of the 

 league. The country ioou experienced the good effecls of this allbcia- 



