"I know too well what you would say," she interrupted; "you are about to leave me!"
"You have said it, my noble child; I must return to my prison. I have pledged my faith and honor to remain only one day in Flanders. But weep not, these evil days will soon be over."
"I will not weep—that were a grievous sin. I give thanks to God for this consolation which He has sent me, and will endeavor to deserve a renewal of such happiness by prayer and patience. Go, my father; one kiss more, and may all the holy angels be with you on your way!"
"Deans," said Robert, turning to the two citizens, "to you I entrust the command of the men of Bruges, to Master Deconinck especially, as principal leaders of the forces. But first, I pray you to procure the services of some good and trusty tire-woman for my daughter, and provide her with other clothing. Take her with you hence, and defend her from all wrong; into your charge I commit her, to be cared for as becomes the blood from which she springs. Master Breydel, be pleased to bring my horse out into the yard."
The Count now took leave of his brothers and of his cousin, and again embraced his daughter, fixing a long and tender look upon her, as though seeking to imprint her image in his memory. She, too, kissed him again and again, clasping him in her arms, as if she could hardly make up her mind to let him go.
"Be comforted, my child," he continued; ''I shall soon return, I trust, for good and all; and in a few days your good brother Adolf will be with you again."
"Oh, tell him to make haste!—then, I know, he will give wings to his horse! Go now, and God be with you, dear father!—I will not weep."
At last the parting was ended, and the tramp of the horses was soon heard in the distance. Her father was no sooner gone, however, than Matilda forgot her promise, and a flood of tears rolled down her cheeks. Yet they were not tears of anguish; for a gentle feeling of consolation remained behind in her heart. Deconinck and Breydel executed their lord's commands with carefulness and speed; a female attendant and fresh clothing were procured; and before evening they were all safe in the camp at Damme with the fugitives of Bruges.
CHAPTER VII
During the week which succeeded to the events last narrated, more than three thousand of the citizens left Bruges and betook themselves either to Deconinck's camp at Ardenburg, or to Damme, where the Dean of the Butchers was in command. The French garrison, meanwhile, increasing in confidence and security as the able-bodied men left the city, abandoned themselves to every species of license, and treated those of the inhabitants that remained as though they had been their very slaves. Nevertheless, there were only too many at Bruges, who, so far from taking umbrage at the presence of the foreigners, consorted with them in all cheerfulness, as if they had been their very brethren. But these were such as had denied their country, and sought by their cowardice to curry favor with the stranger; they were even proud of their by-name of Lilyards, as if it had been a title of honor. The rest were indeed Clawards, true sons of Flanders, who hated the yoke, and were longing for the time when they could cast it off; but the worldly goods which they had earned to themselves by the sweat of their brows were too dear to their hearts to be abandoned to the discretion of foreign marauders.
It was these Clawards, and the wives and children of the fugitives, who were made to feel the heavy yoke and the cruel exactions of an insolent foe. Having nothing now to check them in the gratification of their cowardly revenge, the invaders tyrannized and plundered without mercy or moderation; they carried off by force the goods out of the shops, and paid for them with insults or blows. Irritated with this oppression, the citizens with one accord ceased to expose their goods for sale, and the French could no longer procure provisions even for ready money. Not a loaf of bread, not a piece of meat, was to be had; all were hidden away underground, out of the way of the enemy's search. Before four days were over, the garrison was in such distress for food that foraging parties were sent to scour the neighboring country in quest of supplies. Luckily for them, the deficiency was in part provided for by the care of their Lilyard friends; but notwithstanding their assistance, a grievous scarcity reigned within the gates. All the houses of the Clawards were shut up, all business of sale and purchase was at an end; the whole city seemed asleep, with the exception of the cowardly Lilyards and the violent and restless soldiers. The working-people, being deprived of all employment," could no longer pay their assessment, and were obliged to lurk about in order to conceal themselves from Van Gistel's perquisitions. On Saturdays, when the tax-gatherers went round for the silver penny, they found no one at home; it was as if all the people of Bruges had abandoned their city. Many of the Guildsmen made representations to Van Gistel that, inasmuch as they were earning nothing, they were unable to pay the dues; but the unnatural Fleming turned a deaf ear to all remonstrance, and proceeded to levy the arrears by force. A great number of the citizens were then cast into prison; some—for resisting, or
