''Methinks," said th echancellor with a malicious smile, "that Messire Van Gistel's countrymen are not much beholden to him for his good word. If we were to believe him, I trow there would not be many alive in this populous city to-morrow morning."
"On my honor, noble sirs," replied Van Gistel, "it is only out of faithful regard for the king's interests that I speak. I repeat it, nothing but the blood of the ringleaders can quench the mutinous spirit of our citizens. I can give you a list of all the thorough-paced Clawards here; and as long as they remain at large, I tell you there will never be any peace in Bruges."
"How many names might your list contain?" asked De Chatillon.
"Some forty," he coolly replied.
"How!" cried De Mortenay, in the highest indignation ; "you would have forty of these citizens hung for your good pleasure! It is not those here, however, who deserve such punishment. The principal offenders have escaped to Damme. Hang Breydel, Deconinck, and their crew, with all my heart, when and where you can lay hands upon them; but not these poor defenseless creatures, on whom you are merely seeking to wreak your revenge."
"Messire de Mortenay," observed De Chatillon, "I think you wrote to inform me that the citizens refused to sell provisions to your men; what call you that but downright rebellion?"
"It is true, my lord governor, that in some respects they have passed all bounds, and have forgotten their duty as obedient subjects; but it is now six months since my people have received their pay, and the Flemings refuse any longer to sell except for ready money. I should, in truth, be deeply grieved were my letter to be the occasion of any extreme measures."
"This tenderness for the rebels can end only in the direst results to the interests of the crown of France," insisted Van Gistel; "and I wonder much to hear Messire de Mortenay thus pleading in their behalf."
There was a sneering tone in these words of the Fleming, which incensed De Mortenay even more than the speech itself. Casting a look of the deepest scorn upon the Lilyard, the noble-hearted soldier thus replied:
"If you felt for your country as an honest man should feel, it would not be necessary for me, a Frenchman, to defend your unhappy brethren against your bloodthirsty malice. And now, listen, I tell you to your face, before Messire de ChatilIon here, the citizens never would have refused to sell us provisions, if you had not gone so nefariously to work in exacting the capitation tax. It is to you we owe these troubles; for all your thought is how to trample under foot your own people. No wonder they are full of the bitterest hatred against us and our government, when power is entrusted to such as you."
"I call every one of you to witness that I have only, with zeal and in all fidelity, executed the orders of Messire de Chatillon."
"Call you that zeal and fidelity?" exclaimed De Mortenay; "say rather your own malignant spite against your countrymen for the just contempt they bear you. It was a grievous oversight of the king our lord to set one whom all the world cries shame upon over his revenue in Flanders."
"Messire de Mortenay," cried Van Gistel, passionately, "you shall answer to me for this!"
"Sirs," interposed the governor-general, "let there be an end of this! I forbid you to exchange another word in my presence; let your swords decide your quarrel at a fitting opportunity. At the same time I tell you, Messire de Mortenay, that the fashion of your speech displeases me, and that in all things Messire van Gistel has demeaned himself according to my will. The honors of the French crown must be avenged; and were it not that the ringleaders have left the city, there should be more gibbets this day in Bruges than there are crossways to plant them in. Meanwhile, however, and until a convenient time arrives for putting the rebels to the rout at'Damm.e, I am resolved to make a severe example now and on the spot. Messire van Gistel, give me the names of the eight most obstinate Clawards in the city, and to the gallows with them without more ado."
Determined not to miss this first instalment of his revenge, Van Gistel passed his eyes along the multitude before him; and picking out eight persons from among the crowd, marked them on the instant to the governor-general. A herald was then called, who speedily made his appearance in front of the citizens; and having first, by a blast of his trumpet, warned them to keep silence, he thus proceeded to make proclamation:
"In the name of the most high and noble prince, our most gracious sovereign lord. King Philip, the citizens whose names I shall now read forth are hereby summoned to appear without delay before Messire James de Chatillon, governor-general of this land of Flanders, and that on pain of death in case of disobedience." He then proceeded to read out the names.
The stratagem fully succeeded; for as each name was called, the person designated came forth out of the crowd, and advanced up the square into the immediate presence of De Chatillon, Little did they suspect what awaited them; though indeed their hearts boded them no good, and they would probably have sought safety in flight had that been possible. Most of them were men of some thirty years of age; but among them approached
