"In consideration—"
He paused suddenly; a low murmur ran throughout the various divisions of the army; and while each was eagerly grasping his weapon, the archers strung their cross-brows, as though danger were at hand.
"The foe! the foe!" echoed on all sides. In the distance were seen numerous troops of men advancing; thousands of warriors were approaching in dense masses; there seemed no end of their numbers. Still were all in doubt whether it could be the enemy, for no cavalry was visible among them. Suddenly a horseman was observed to leave the unknown host, and to ride at full gallop toward the encampment. He bent so low over the neck of his horse that his features could not be distinguished, though he was already at no great distance. When he had come quite close to the astonished troops, he raised his head and shouted:
"Flanders and the Lion! Flanders and the Lion! here come the men of Ghent!" The old warrior was at once recognized; joyous acclamations answered his shout, and his name passed quickly from mouth to mouth.
''Hail, Ghent! Hail, Messire John Borluut! welcome, good brother!"
When the Flemings saw their numbers increased by this unexpected reenforcement of troops so numerous, their impetuous joy could no longer be restrained: their commanders could scarcely keep them in their ranks. They moved about in violent commotion, and seemed beside themselves with pleasure; but Messire John Borluut cried:
“Be of good courage, my friends, Flanders shall be free! I bring you five thousand well-armed and intrepid warriors."
And then answered the whole host with irrepressible enthusiasm:
"Hail! hail to the hero of Woeringen! Borluut! Borluut!"
Messire Borluut then drew near to the young Count, and would have greeted him with courtly ceremony; but Guy hastily interrupted him:
"Spare these words of ceremony, Messire John; give me your friendly right hand. I am so glad that you are come; you who have passed your days in arms, and are so rich in experience. I was beginning to be troubled at your not arriving; you have delayed long."
"Oh, yes, noble Guy," was the answer, "longer than I wished; but those dastardly Lilyards have kept me back. Would you believe, noble lord, that they had actually formed a conspiracy in Ghent to bring back the French again? They would not let us leave the town to go to the aid of our brethren; but, God be thanked! their plot did not succeed; for the people's hatred and contempt of them exceed all bounds. The men of Ghent drove their magistrates into the citadel, and demolished the gates of the city. So here I am with five thousand intrepid men, longing for the fight more eagerly than for their dinners, though they have touched nothing this day as yet."
"I thought assuredly that some great obstacle must have detained you, Messire Borluut, and I even feared that you would not come at all."
"What, noble Guy! could I stay away from Courtrai? I, who have shed my blood for strangers, was I not to stand by my fatherland in its hour of need? The French shall soon know this to their cost. I feel myself quite young again; and my men, noble lord, await only the day of battle to let you see how the French shall fall before the White Lion of Ghent."
"You gladden my heart, Messire Borluut; our men are full of fury and impetuous ardor; should we lose the fight, I can assure you very few Flemings will see their homes again." \ "Lose the fight, say you? lose it, Count Guy? Never will I believe it; our men are all animated with too noble a courage; and Breydel—victory sits beaming already on his very countenance. Look you, my lord; I will wager my head, that if you would only allow Breydel to do what he likes, he and his Butchers would cut these two-and-sixty thousand to pieces just as easily as they would mow down a field of corn. Be of good courage; God and Messire St. George will be our aid. But, I pray you excuse me, Lord Guy; there are my men —I must leave you for a moment."
The men of Ghent had now reached the Groningen Place; they were wearied and covered with dust, for they had made a forced march under the burning sun. Their weapons were of various kinds; and among them were all the classes of troops we have already described. About forty nobles rode in advance, for the most part friends of the old warrior, John Borluut; and in the midst of the host floated the banner of Ghent with its white lion. Then the men of Bruges, who felt how unjustly they had reproached their brethren of Ghent, shouted again and again:
"Welcome, brothers, welcome! Hurrah for GhentI"
In the meantime John Borluut drew up his men in front of the left wing of the square; he wished to make a good display of them, that the men of Bruges might see that they did not yield to them in love of their common fatherland. At Guy's command he then left the camp and entered Courtrai, that he might give his men the repose and refreshment which they so much needed. As soon as the men of Ghent had withdrawn, John van Renesse advanced into the square and cried:
"To arms! Silence!"
The group in the middle of the square returned to its former position; every one held his peace at the command of Messire van Renesse, and the attention of all was fixed on the herald, who again sounded his trumpet thrice, and then proceeded to read with a loud voice:
"We, Guy of Namur, in the name of our Count and our brother, Robert de Bethune, the Lion of Flanders, to all who shall read or hear this our proclamation, greeting and peace! In consideration of the good and loyal service rendered
