"Noble Count," replied Deconinck, raising his head, "were I commander-in-chief, I should begin operations thus: I should march with all speed with the Guildsmen of Bruges upon Courtrai, in order to expel thence the castellan Van Lens. That fortress would no longer be a stronghold and place of reserve for the French, and we should have a secure shelter for our women and children, as well as for ourselves; for the citadel of Courtrai is strong, while Bruges, in its present condition, could not stand a siege, but might easily be taken by storm. I would further despatch mounted messengers into all parts of Flanders to announce the nearness of the enemy, and to summon all the Clawards to Courtrai; Messires van Gulick and Renesse should also fall back on the place. In this way, I am sure, noble Count, that the Flemish army would within four days amount to thirty thousand picked men of war, and then we need have no great fear of the French."
The knights listened in eager silence; they could not help being astonished at the extraordinary man who had in a few minutes thought out so able a method of defense, and given them such appropriate counsel. Though they had long known Deconinck's high qualities, they could scarcely believe that they were the endowments of a Clothworker, a man from the class of the people.
"You have more wisdom than all of us together," cried Diederik die Vos. *'Yes, yes, it is so indeed; we are far stronger than we thought. Now we turn over a new leaf; and I am inclined to think the French will have good reason to rue their journey hitherward."
“I thank God, who has inspired you with these counsels, Master Deconinck," said the youthful Count; "your good service shall not lack its fitting reward. I will act on the plan you have advised; it is most wise and most prudent. I hope. Master Breydel, that you will not fail to supply us the men whom you have promised."
"Eight thousand, did I say, most noble Count?" replied Breydel. "Well, now I say ten thousand. No Guildsman nor apprentice shall remain in Bruges; young and old, all must forth to the fight. I will take care that the French shall not make their entry into Flanders except over our dead bodies, and their Deans, my friends, will do the same, I know right well."
"Certainly, noble lord," exclaimed the Deans with one voice; "no man will fail in his duty, for all are longing eagerly for the fight."
"Our time is too precious to be consumed in talking," said Guy. "Go now and gather the Guildsmen together with what speed you can; in two hours I shall be ready to depart, and will place myself at the head of the expedition in the Friday Market-place. Go now, I am right well pleased with your zeal and courage."
All then left the hall. Guy immediately despatched numerous messengers in all directions to the nobles who still remained loyal to their fatherland; and at the same time he sent directions to William van Gulick and John van Renesse to fall back on Courtrai.
The alarming tidings were spread in a few moments over the whole city. As the rumor diffused itself, the number of the enemy was exaggerated in a wonderful manner, and now the French host was more than one hundred thousand strong. One may imagine with what terror and grief the sorrowful intelligence struck the women and children. In every street were weeping mothers embracing their terrified daughters with loving compassion. The children began to cry because they saw their mothers weep and tremble, and without any notion of the danger that threatened them. Their agonized sobs and the expression of mortal terror on their countenances contrasted singularly with the lofty and impatient bearing of the men.
From all sides hastened the Guildsmen to the place of rendezvous; the clatter of the iron plates, with which many were covered, mingled, like a jocund song, with the wailing cries of the women and children. Whenever a party of men met in the street, they halted a moment to exchange a few words, and kindle each other's courage to the fight for victory or for death. Here and there might be seen a father at the door of his house, embracing one by one his children and their mother; then dashing the tears from his eye, and disappearing like an arrow in the direction of the Friday Marketplace; and the mother would linger on the threshold of the house, gazing on the corner round which the father of her children had vanished. That farewell seemed to her a separation forever; tears rolled down from beneath her eyelids—she pressed her children to her throbbing breast, and turned back despairingly into her home.
Already the Guildsmen stood in long files in the market-place; Breydel had kept his promise; he counted among his men twelve thousand Guildsmen of all crafts. The axes of the Butchers glittered like mirrors in the sunshine, and dazzled the beholder with their broad and fiery flashings. Over the heads of the Clothworkers arose two thousand "good-days," with keen iron heads, and one division of them carried crossbows. Guy was standing in the middle of the square, surrounded by a retinue of about twenty knights; he was awaiting the return of the remaining craftsmen, who had been despatched into the city to collect wagons and horses. A Clothworker whom Deconinck had sent to the great bell-tower advanced into the market-place at this moment with the great standard of Bruges. No sooner had the Guildsmen caught sight of the Blue Lion than they raised a deafening shout of joy, and ever anew was repeated the war-cry
