Long ere the herald had made an end, his voice was drowned in the joyous acclamations of the Clothworkers and Butchers. The great favor conferred on their Deans was, as it were, the reward of their own bravery, an honor which was reflected upon their Guilds. Had not the loyalty and patriotism of the Deans been so well known, their elevation to the rank of nobles would undoubtedly have been received with suspicion and displeasure, as a stratagem of the nobility. They would have said:
"These feudal lords are depriving us of the asserters of our rights, and are seducing our leaders by these manifestations of favor." . In any other case the suspicion would not have been unfounded; for men, for the most part, are easily perverted and seduced by the love of honor. Hence it is not to be wondered at that the people cherished a bitter hatred against such of their brethren as allowed themselves to be thus raised in dignity; for, instead of noble-minded friends of the people, they became, for the most part, fawning and craven flatterers, and upheld the power to which they owed their elevation. They knew that with it they must stand or fall; for they saw that the people whom they had forsaken regarded them with abhorrence and contempt as deserters and apostates.
But the Guilds of Bruges reposed too lofty a confidence in Deconinck and Breydel to admit of reflections such as these at that moment. Their Deans were now noble; they had now two men who were admitted to the councils of their Count, who dared look the enemies of their rights in the face, and oppose their lawless usurpations. They felt that their influence was thus greatly increased, and testified by repeated cries the rapturous joy they felt. At last the tumult subsided, and their gestures and beaming countenances alone betrayed their gladness.
Adolf van Nieuwland advanced to the Deans, and summoned them to appear before the commander-in-chief ; they obeyed, and joined the group of knights. The features of the Clothworker betokened no elation of spirit; he moved onward calmly and sedately, undisturbed by any exciting emotion; a peaceful serenity and a noble pride filled his soul. Not so the Dean of the Butchers; he had never learned to command himself—the most trivial incident, the lightest feeling which passed through his heart, expressed itself at once upon his countenance, and it was easy to see that sincerity was the chiefest of the many good qualities which he possessed. And now he tried in vain to restrain the tears which burst from his blue eyes; he stooped his head to conceal them, and thus, with beating heart, followed his friend Deconinck. All the knights and noble dames had dismounted, and given their horses into the care of their squires.
Guy then beckoned to the four esquires-atarms to draw near, and presented to the Deans the costly suits of armor they carried; the several pieces were put on and adjusted, and the helmet, with its plume of blue, clasped on their heads. The men of Bruges regarded this ceremonial in breathless silence; their hearts were filled to overflowing with glad emotion, and each man felt that a measure of this honor was his own also. When the Deans were fully equipped, they were directed to kneel; and Guy, advancing, raised his sword over the head of Deconinck, and said:
"Be thou a true knight, Messire Deconinck; let thine honor know no stain, and grasp thy sword then only when God, thy fatherland, and thy prince shall summon thee thereto."
With these words he touched the shoulder of the Clothworker gently with his sword, according to the custom of knighthood; and then the same ceremony was gone through with Breydel.
Matilda now advanced from the group of ladies, and placed herself in front of the kneeling Deans. She took from the squires the two emblazoned shields, and attached them to the necks of the ennobled citizens. Many of the spectators remarked that she hung the shield round Breydel's neck first; and this she must have done advisedly, for in order to effect it she had to move some steps on one side.
"These coats-of-arms have been sent to you from my father," said she, turning herself rather toward Breydel. "I feel assured that you will preserve them in all honor; and I rejoice that I have been permitted to bear a part in this requital of your noble patriotism."
Breydel regarded the noble maiden with a look of profoundest gratitude—a look which was a pledge of the most ardent loyalty and devotion; he would certainly have thrown himself at her feet, had not the stately and ceremonious bearing of the surrounding knights checked his impetuosity. He remained as one petrified, without speech or motion; for he could scarcely comprehend what had happened to him.
"You are now at liberty to return to your troops, Messires," said Guy. "We hope that you will
