"Do you know your niece, Messire de Chatillon? Do you know how jealous is Joanna of Navarre?"
"In truth, madame, with the noblest and most laudable jealousy; for to wear a crown, and not to maintain its dignity, is to deserve to forfeit it. Your princely spirit is the object of universal admiration."
"Do you know, too, that it is no paltry vengeance that satisfies me? The punishment of those that have affronted me must be commensurate with my dignity. Both as a queen and woman I must be revenged: that is enough for you, to whom I am about to commit the government of Flanders, and who will have to execute my will."
"It is needless, madame, for you to trouble yourself further about this matter; be assured that your vengeance shall be complete. Peradventure I shall even exceed your wishes; for I have to avenge not only the affront to you, but also those which are daily offered to the crown of France by this rebellious and headstrong people."
"But, Messire de Chatillon, do not, I pray you, lose sight of sound policy. Be not too hasty in drawing the noose fast about their necks; break their spirit rather by gradual humiliation. Above all, fleece them bit by bit of the wealth which supports their obstinacy; and then, when you have them fairly in the harness, press down the yoke so tight upon their necks, that I may be able to feast my eyes upon their slavery. Be in no hurry; I have patience enough, when the end can be more effectually reached thereby. And the better to succeed, it will be advisable to take the first opportunity of removing one Deconinck from his place of Dean of the Clothworkers in this city, and to take care that none but our friends are admitted to offices of power."
De Chatillon listened attentively to the queen's counsel, and secretly admired her skill in the crooked ways of policy; and as his private revenge was equally interested in the establishment of despotism, he was highly delighted at being able to gratify at once his own passions and those of his niece. With evident joy he replied:
"I receive with gratitude the honor which your majesty confers on me, and will spare nothing to carry out the counsels of my sovereign lady, as a true and faithful servant. Have you any further commands for me?"
In putting this question he had the young Matilda in view. De Chatillon well knew that she had drawn upon herself the queen's enmity, and was convinced she would not be long without feeling its effects. Joanna answered:
"I think it might be as well to have away that daughter of Messire de Bethune into France; she seems full of Flemish pride and obstinacy; and I shall be pleased to have her at my court. Enough said—you understand me. To-morrow I leave this accursed land; I have had more than enough of their insolence. Raoul de Nesle goes with us; you remain here as governor-general of Flanders, with full power to rule the land at your discretion, and accountable only to ourselves for your fidelity."
''Say rather at the discretion of my royal niece," interposed De Chatillon, in a tone of flattery.
"Be it so," said Joanna; "I am gratified by your devotedness. Twelve hundred men at arms shall remain with you to support your authority. And now it is time for us both to go to rest, my fair uncle; so I wish you good-night."
"May all good angels watch over your majesty!" said De Chatillon, with a profound bow; and with these words he left the chamber of the evil-minded queen.
CHAPTER VIII
The city magistrates and their friends the Lilyards had gone to great expense about the ceremonial of the royal entry. The triumphal arches and scaffoldings, and the precious stuffs with which they were adorned, had cost large sums of money; besides which, a quantity of the best wine had been served out to each of the king's men-atarms. As all this had been done by order of the magistrates, and consequently had to be paid for out of the common chest, it had been regarded by the citizens with the greatest dissatisfaction.
All the machinery of the pageant had long been removed; De Chatillon was at Courtrai, and the royal visit almost forgotten, when one morning, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, a crier appeared before the town hall, at the usual place of proclamation, and by sound of trumpet called the people together. As soon as he saw a sufficient number of hearers assembled, he produced a parchment from a case which hung at his side, and read aloud:
"It is hereby made known to each and every citizen, that the worshipful the magistrates have ordered as follows, that is to say:
''That an extraordinary contribution be levied for covering the expenses of the entry of our gracious prince, King Philip.
"That each and every inhabitant of the city pay thereto the sum of eight groats Flemish, to be paid head by head, without distinction of age.
"That the tax-gatherers collect the same on Saturday next, from door to door; and that such as by force or fraud refuse or evade payment of the same be compelled thereto in due course of law."
Those of the citizens who heard this proclamation looked at one another with astonishment, and secretly murmured at so arbitrary an exaction. Among these were several journeymen of the Clothworkers' Company, who, without delay, hastened to make the matter known to their Dean.
Deconinck received the intelligence with extreme displeasure. Such a violent
