CIVIL WAR
Edgar and Albert came up with the force after an hour-and-a-half's
riding, and found it halted some four miles from Bruges. The news that
the English knights had discovered a store of flour had passed quickly
through the ranks, and they were loudly cheered as they rode in.
"Truly you have rendered us a vast service," Van Artevelde said, as
they joined him, "for it will not be needful to break in this evening
upon our scanty store, and this is of vital importance, since we must
perforce wait until the earl and the men of Bruges come out to attack
us. Your men said that it was some fifteen sacks of flour that you had
found?"
"About that, sir. There were ten full, and under the millstones was a
great bin holding, I should say, half as much more. Moreover, we have
ridden far over the country, and have gathered up twelve head of
cattle, four horses, and a score of sheep. These are following us, and
will give meat enough for a good meal to-day all round, and maybe
something to spare, and to-morrow I trust that we may bring in some
more."
A murmur of satisfaction broke from the four or five burghers with Van
Artevelde.
"This is a good beginning, indeed, of our adventure," the latter said,
"and greatly are we beholden to these knights. They have dispelled the
apprehension I had that if the people of Bruges deferred their attack
for a couple of days they might find us so weakened with hunger as to
be unable to show any front against them."
Two hours later the animals arrived, and were handed over to the
company of the butchers' guild, who proceeded at once to cut them up.
They were then distributed among the various companies, with orders
that but half was to be eaten that night and the rest kept for the
morrow. In the meantime men had been sent on to some of the deserted
villages, and had returned with doors, shutters, broken furniture, and
beams, and fires were speedily lighted. Before the meat was ready half
of those who had remained at the mill arrived laden with bread, and
said that the rest would be up in two hours. For the first time for
weeks the Ghentois enjoyed a hearty meal, and as Van Artevelde, with
the young knights and burghers with him, went round on foot among the
men, they were greeted with loud cheers and shouts of satisfaction.
The next day the force remained where it had halted. The two knights
and the men-at-arms scoured the country again for some miles round, and
drove in before them twenty-two head of cattle, and these sufficed,
with what had remained over, to furnish food for the day and to leave
enough for the troops to break their fast in the morning.
So deserted was the country that it was not until the next morning
early that the news reached the earl that the men of Ghent had come out
against him. Rejoicing that they should thus have placed themselves in
his power, he sent out three knights to reconnoitre their position and
bring an account of their numbers. After breakfast Philip Van Artevelde
had moved his followers a short distance away from their halting-ground
and taken up a position near to a small hill, where he addressed them.
Some friars and clergy who were with the force celebrated mass at
various points, and then confessed the troops and exhorted them to keep
up their courage, telling them that small forces had, with the help of
God, frequently defeated large ones, and as all had been done that was
possible to obtain peace but without avail, He would surely help them
against these enemies who sought to destroy them utterly. Then they
prepared for battle. Each man carried with him a long and sharp stake,
as was their custom, in the same fashion as did the English archers,
and they gathered in a square and set a hedge of these stakes round
them. The enemy's knights had ridden near them without being interfered
with, for the Ghentois wished nothing better than that the smallness of
their numbers should be clearly seen.
After they had ridden off, Van Artevelde, confident that their report
would suffice to bring out the earl with his people, now ordered that
the wine and bread brought out with them, which had hitherto been
untouched, should be served out. The men then sat down and quietly
awaited the attack. As Van Artevelde had hoped, the message taken back
by the knights as to his strength and position was sufficient to induce
the earl to give battle at once, as he feared that they might change
their mind and retreat. The alarm-bells called all the citizens to
arms. They fell in with their companies, and marched out forty thousand
strong, including the knights and men-at-arms of the earl. The citizens
of Bruges, delighted at the thought that the opportunity for levelling
their haughty rival to the dust had now arrived, marched on, until they
reached the edge of a pond in front of the position of the Ghentois.
Van Artevelde had placed the whole of the men with guns in the front
rank, with the strictest orders that no shot was to be fired until the
order was given. Waiting until the enemy had gathered in great masses,
Van Artevelde gave the word, and the three hundred guns, many of these
being wall-pieces, were fired at once, doing great destruction. The sun
was behind the Ghentois, and its direct rays, and those reflected from
the pond, rendered it difficult for the men of Bruges to see what their
foes were doing, and observing the great confusion from the effect of
the volley, the men of Ghent, with a mighty cheer, pulled up their
stakes, and rushing round the ends of the pond, fell upon their enemies
with fury.
The men of Bruges, who had anticipated no resistance, and had marched
out in the full belief that the Ghentois would lay down their arms and
crave for mercy as soon as they appeared, were seized with a panic. The
two young knights, with their four men-at-arms, had placed themselves
at the head of the foot-men, and, dashing among the citizens, hewed
their way through them, followed closely by the shouting Ghentois.
Numbers of the men of Bruges were slain with sword, axe, and pike. The
others threw away their arms and fled, hotly pursued by their foes.
Louis of Flanders, who, by a charge with his knights and men-at-arms,
might well have remedied the matter, now showed that he was as cowardly
as he was cruel, drew off with them, and, without striking a single
blow, he himself and some forty men galloped to Bruges. The rest of his
knights and followers scattered in all directions.
Great numbers of the flying citizens were killed in the pursuit. It was
now dark; the earl on arriving had ordered the gate by which he entered
to be closed, and had set twenty men there. Thus the retreat of the
citizens into the town was prevented, and many were slaughtered. In
consequence, the rest fled to other gates, where they were admitted,
but with them rushed in their pursuers. Philip Van Artevelde begged the
two English knights to each take a strong party, and to proceed round
the walls in different directions, seizing all the gates, and setting a
strong guard on them, that none should enter or leave; and then, with
the main body of his following, he marched without opposition to the
market-place.
The earl, when he found that the town was lost and the gates closed,
disguised himself, and found shelter for the night in a loft in the
house of a poor woman. Van Artevelde had issued the strictest orders
that he was on no account to be injured, but was, when found, to be
brought at once to him, so that he might be taken to Ghent, and there
obliged to make a peace that would assure to the city all its
privileges, and give rest and tranquillity to the country. In spite,
however, of the most rigid search, the earl was not found; but the
forty knights and men-at-arms who had entered with him were all
captured and killed. No harm whatever was done to any of the
inhabitants of Bruges, or to any foreign merchants or others residing
there.
[Illustration: THE TWO YOUNG KNIGHTS CHARGE DOWN UPON THE
PANIC-STRICKEN CROWD.]
On the following night the Earl of Flanders managed to effect his
escape in disguise. That day being Sunday the men of Ghent repaired to
the cathedral, where they had solemn mass celebrated, and a
thanksgiving for their victory and for their relief from their sore
strait. The young knights were not present, for as soon as the city was
captured, Van Artevelde said to them:
"Brave knights, to you it is chiefly due that we are masters here
to-day, instead of being men exhausted, without hope, and at the mercy
of our enemies. It was you who found and brought us food, and so
enabled us to hold out for two days, and to meet the enemy strong and
in good heart. Then, too, I marked how you clove a way for our men to
follow you through the ranks of the foe, spreading death and dismay
among them. Sirs, to you, then, I give the honour of bearing the news
to Ghent. I have ordered that fresh horses shall be brought you from
the prince's stable. Councillor Moens will ride with you to act as
spokesman; but before starting, take, I pray you, a goblet of wine and
some bread. It were well that you took your men-at-arms with you, for
you might be beset on the road by some of the people who did not
succeed in entering the gates, or by some of the cowardly knights who
stood by and saw the citizens being defeated without laying lance in
rest to aid them. Fresh horses shall be prepared for your men also, and
they shall sup before they start. There is no lack of food here."
Much gratified at the mission intrusted to them, the young knights at
once ordered their men-at-arms to prepare for the ride.
"When you have supped," Albert said, "see that you stuff your
saddle-bags and ours with food for Van Voorden's household first, and
then for those who most need it."
The meals were soon eaten. As they were about to mount Van Artevelde
said to them:
"There will be no lack of provisions to-morrow, for in two hours a
great train of waggons, loaded with provisions, will start under a
strong guard, and to-morrow at daybreak herds of cattle will be brought
in and driven there; you may be sure also that the rivers will be open
as soon as the news is known, for none will now venture to interfere
with those bringing food into Ghent."
The councillor was ready, and in a few minutes they had passed out of
the city, and were galloping along the road to Ghent, just as the bell
of the cathedral tolled the hour of ten. Two hours later, without having
once checked the speed of their horses, they heard the bells ringing
midnight in Ghent. In ten minutes they approached the gate, and were
challenged from the walls.
"I am the Councillor Moens," the knights' companion shouted. "I come
from Philip Van Artevelde with good news. We have defeated the enemy
and captured Bruges."
There was a shout of delight from the walls, and in a minute the
drawbridge was lowered and the great gate opened. The councillor rode
straight to the town-hall. The doors were open, and numbers of the
citizens were still gathered there. Moens did not wait to speak to
them, but, running into the belfry, ordered the men there to ring their
most joyous peal. The poor fellows had been lying about, trying to
deaden their hunger by sleep, but at the order they leapt to their
feet, seized the ropes, and Ghent was electrified by hearing the
triumphal peal bursting out in the stillness of the night.
In the meantime those in the hall had crowded round the young knights
and their followers, but these, beyond saying that the news was good,
waited until Moens' return. It was but a minute, and he at once shouted:
"The enemy have been beaten! We have taken Bruges! By the morning food
will be here!"
Now from every belfry in the city the notes from the town-hall had been
taken up, the clanging of the bells roused every sleeper, and the whole
town poured into the street shouting wildly, for though they knew not
yet what had happened, it was clear that some great news had arrived.
All the councillors and the principal citizens had made for the
town-hall, which was speedily thronged. Moens took his place with the
two young knights upon the raised platform at the end, and lifted his
hand for silence. The excited multitude were instantly still, and those
near the doors closed them, to keep out the sound of the bells. Then
Moens, speaking at the top of his voice that all might hear him, said:
"I am now but the mouthpiece of these English knights, to whom Van
Artevelde has given the honour of bearing the news to you, but since
they are ignorant of our language I have come with them as interpreter.
First, then, we have met the army of Bruges and the earl, forty
thousand strong; we have defeated them with great slaughter, and with
but small loss to ourselves."
A mighty shout rose from the crowd, and it was some minutes before the
speaker could continue.
"Following on the heels of our flying foes, we entered the city, and
Bruges is ours."
Another shout, as enthusiastic as the first, again interrupted him.
"A great train of waggons filled with wine and provisions was to start
at midnight, and will be here to-morrow morning at daybreak. Herds will
be driven in, and dispatched at once. By to-morrow night, therefore,
the famine will be at an end, and every man, woman, and child in Ghent
will be able to eat their fill."
Those at the door shouted the glad news to the multitude in the square,
and a roar like that of the sea answered, and echoed the shouts in the
hall.
"Tell us more, tell us more!" the men cried, when the uproar ceased.
"We have seven or eight hours to wait for food; tell us all about it."
"I will tell you first, citizens, why I am speaking to you in the name
of these English knights, and why they have been chosen to have the
honour of bringing these good tidings hither."
He then told them how, the force being without horsemen, and bound to
keep straight along by the road, the two knights had volunteered to
ride out to see if any hostile force was approaching, and also to
endeavour to find provisions.
"The latter seemed hopeless," the councillor went on. "Every village
had long since been deserted, and no living soul met the eye on the
plain. They had been gone but three hours when one of their men-at-arms
rode in, asking that all the bakers should be sent forward at once, for
that, in a mill less than two miles from the road, they had discovered
fifteen sacks of flour left behind. The bakers started at once with
five hundred men to bring on the bread as fast as it was baked to the
spot where we were to halt.
"This was not all, for, later on, the knights with some of the men
joined us at the camp with sufficient cattle, sheep, and horses, that
the knights had found straying, to give every man a meal that night,
and one the following morning. The next day they drove in a few more,
and so it was not until to-day that we touched the store we took with
us. It was the food that saved us. Had we been forced to eat our scanty
supply that first night, we should have been fasting for well-nigh
forty-eight hours, and when the earl, with his knights and men-at-arms
and the townsmen of Bruges, in all forty thousand men, marched out to
meet us, what chance would five thousand famished men have had against
them? As it was, the food we got did wonders for us; and every man
seemed to have regained his full strength and courage. When they came
nigh to us we poured in one volley with all our guns, which put them
into confusion. The sun was in their eyes, and almost before they knew
that we had moved, we were upon them.
"These two knights and their four men-at-arms flung themselves into the
crowd and opened the way for our footmen, and in five minutes the fight
was over. It may be that many of the craftsmen of Bruges were there
unwillingly, and that these were among the first to throw down their
arms and fly. However it was, in five minutes the whole force was in
full flight. The earl's knights and their men-at-arms struck not a
single blow, but seeming panic-struck, scattered and fled in all
directions, the earl and forty men alone gaining Bruges. There they
closed the gate against the fugitives, but these fled to other gates,
and so hotly did we pursue them that we entered mixed up with them.
"Van Artevelde committed to the two English knights the task of seizing
all the gates, and of setting a guard to prevent any man from leaving,
while the rest of us under him pushed forward to the market-place.
There was no resistance. Thousands of the men had fallen in the battle
and flight. Thousands had failed to enter the gates. All who did so
were utterly panic-stricken and terrified. Thus the five thousand men
you sent out have defeated forty thousand, and have captured Bruges,
and I verily believe that not more than a score have fallen. Methinks,
my friends, you will all agree with me that your governor has done well
to give these knights the honour of carrying the good news to Ghent."
A mighty shout answered the question. The crowd rushed upon the two
young knights, each anxious to speak to them, and praise them. With
difficulty the councillor, aided by some of his colleagues, surrounded
them, and made a way to a small door at the end of the platform. Once
beyond the building, they hurried along by-streets to Van Voorden's
house, to where, on entering the hall, they had charged the men-at-arms
at once to take the horses, to hand over as much of the provisions as
were needed for the immediate wants of the household, and then to carry
the rest to the nuns of a convent hard by--for these were, they knew,
reduced to the direst straits before the expedition started.
"Welcome back, welcome back!" the Fleming exclaimed, as they entered,
and the words were repeated by wife and daughter. "Your men-at-arms
told my wife what had happened, and I myself heard it from the lower
end of the town-hall, where I arrived just as Moens began to speak. I
saw you escape from the platform, and hurried off, but have only this
instant arrived. The crush was so great in the square that it was
difficult to make my way through it, but forgive us if we say nothing
further until we have eaten that food upon the table, for indeed we
have had but one regular meal since you left the town. Tell me first,
though, for all were too excited to ask Moens the question--has the
earl been captured?"
"He had not, up to the moment when we left. The strictest search is
being made for him. It is known that he must be somewhere in the town,
for he and a party, not knowing that Van Artevelde was in the
market-place, well-nigh fell into his hands, and he certainly could not
have got through any of the gates before we had closed them and had
placed a strong guard over them. Van Artevelde has given strict orders
that he is to be taken uninjured, and he purposes to bring him here,
and to make him sign a peace with us."
"I trust that he will be caught," Van Voorden said; "but as for the
peace, I should have no faith in it, for be sure that as soon as he is
once free again he would repudiate it, and would at once set to work to
gather, with the aid of Burgundy, a force with which he could renew the
war, wipe out the disgrace that has befallen him, and take revenge upon
the city that inflicted it. Now, let us to supper."
"We will but look on," Albert said, with a smile. "We supped at Bruges
at half-past nine, but it will be a pleasure indeed to see you eat it."
"We must not eat much," the merchant said to his wife and daughter.
"Let us take a little now, and to-morrow we can do better. It might
injure us to give rein to our appetite after well-nigh starving for the
last two days."
As soon as the meal was eaten all sallied out into the streets, the
young knights first laying aside their armour, as they did not wish to
attract attention. The bells were still ringing out with joyous
clamour; at every house flags, carpets, and curtains had been hung out;
torches were fixed to every balcony, and great bonfires had been
lighted in the middle of the streets, and in the open spaces and
markets. The people were well-nigh delirious with joy; strangers shook
hands and embraced in the streets; men and women forgot their weakness
and hunger, though many were so feeble but an hour before that they
could scarcely drag themselves along. The cathedral and churches were
all lighted up and crowded with worshippers, thanking God for having
preserved them in their hour of greatest need.
"Then, in truth, Sir Edgar," the Fleming said, as they went along, "the
people of Bruges showed themselves to be but a cowardly rabble, and the
fighting was poor indeed."
"It could scarce be called fighting at all," Edgar said. "A few blows
from halbert and bill, and a few thrusts of the pike struck my armour
as I charged among them, but after that, it was but a matter of cutting
down fugitives. The rabble down in Kent fought with far greater
courage, for we had to charge through and through them several times
before they broke. I doubt not that very many were outside Bruges
against their wills; they had not dared disobey the summons to arms. It
was a panic, and a strange one. They had doubtless made up their minds
that when we saw their multitude, we should surrender without a blow
being struck. The sudden discharge of the guns shook them, and at our
first charge they bolted away panic-struck. The strangest part of the
affair was that the earl, who had a strong following of knights and
men-at-arms, made no effort to retrieve the battle. Had they but
charged down upon our flank when we had become disordered in the
pursuit, they could have overthrown us without difficulty.
"How it came about that they did not do so is more than I can say. It
is clear that the earl showed himself to be a great coward, and his
disgrace this day is far greater than that of the burghers of Bruges,
since he and his party fled without the loss of a single drop of blood,
while thousands of the citizens have lost their lives."
"'Tis good that he so behaved," Van Voorden said. "The story that he so
deserted the men of Bruges, who went to fight in his quarrel, will
speedily be known throughout Flanders, and that, with the news of our
great victory, will bring many cities to our side. I trust that Van
Artevelde will treat Bruges with leniency."
"He has already issued a proclamation that none of the small craftsmen
of Bruges shall be injured, but exception is made in the case of the
four guilds that have always been foremost against Ghent; members of
which are to be killed when found."
"'Tis a pity, but one can scarce blame him. And now, my friends, that
we have seen Ghent on this wonderful night, it will be well that we get
home to bed. My wife and daughter are still weak from fasting, and I
myself feel the strain. As to you, you have done a heavy day's work
indeed, especially having to carry the weight of your armour."
The young knights were indeed glad to throw themselves upon their
pallets. They slept soundly until awakened by a fresh outburst of the
bells. They sat up; daylight was beginning to break.
"'Tis the train of provisions," Edgar said. "We may as well go out and
see the sight, and give such aid as we can to the council, for the
famishing people may well be too eager to await the proper division of
the food."
In a few days there was an abundance of everything in Ghent, for Damme
and Sluys opened their gates at once. In the former there were vast
cellars of wine, of which 6,000 tuns were sent by ships and carts to
Ghent, while at Sluys there was a vast quantity of corn and meal in the
ships and storehouses of foreign merchants. All this was bought and
paid for at fair prices and sent to the city. Besides food and wine,
Ghent received much valuable spoil. All the gold and silver vessels of
the earl were captured at Bruges, with much treasure, and a great store
of gold and jewels was taken at his palace at Male, near Bruges.
Philip Van Artevelde at once sent messages to all the towns of Flanders
summoning them to send the keys of their gates to Ghent, and to
acknowledge her supremacy. The news of the victory had caused great
exultation in most of these cities, and with the exception of
Oudenarde, all sent deputations at once to Ghent to congratulate her,
and to promise to support her in all things. In the meantime the gates
and a portion of the wall of Bruges had been beaten down, and five
hundred of the burgesses were taken to Ghent as hostages. The young
knights remained quietly there until Philip Van Artevelde returned. He
was received with frantic enthusiasm. He had assumed the title of
Regent of Flanders, and now assumed a state and pomp far greater than
that which the earl himself had held. He had an immense income, for not
only were his private estates large, but a sort of tribute was paid by
all the towns of Flanders, and Ghent for a time presented a scene of
gaiety and splendour equal to that of any capital in Europe.
Siege was presently laid to Oudenarde, where the garrison had been
strongly reinforced by a large party of men-at-arms and cross-bowmen,
sent by the earl. Every city in Flanders sent a contingent of fighting
men to join those of Ghent, and no less than a hundred thousand men
were assembled outside Oudenarde. Thither went the two young friends as
soon as the siege began. They had come out to see fighting and not
feasting, and they had lost the society of Van Voorden, he having been
requested by Van Artevelde to return to England, to conclude a treaty
between her and Ghent. Flanders was indeed master of itself, for the
earl was a fugitive at the Court of his son-in-law, the Duke of
Burgundy, who was endeavouring to induce France to join him against
Flanders.
For a time he failed, for the king was much better disposed to the
Flemings than he was to the earl, but when, some time later, Charles
died, and Burgundy became all-powerful with the young king, his
successor, France also prepared to take the field against Flanders.
Thus a close alliance between the latter and England became of great
importance to both, and had it not been for the extreme unpopularity of
the Duke of Lancaster and his brother Gloucester, the course of events
might have been changed. For war with France was always popular in
England, and the necessary supplies would at once have been voted by
parliament had it not been thought that when an army was raised
Lancaster would, instead of warring with France, use it for furthering
his own claims in Spain. Many English knights, however, came over on
their own account to aid the Flemings, and no less than two hundred
archers at Calais quietly left the town, with the acquiescence, if not
with the encouragement, of the authorities, to take service with Van
Artevelde.
One day, the two friends returned to camp after being away for some
time watching what was going on. On entering their tent, Albert, who
was the first to enter, gave a shout of surprise and pleasure. Edgar
pushed in to see what could have thus excited his friend, and so moved
him from his usual quiet manner. He, too, was equally surprised, and
almost equally pleased, when he saw Albert standing with his hand
clasped in that of his father.
"I thought that I should surprise you," Sir Ralph said, "by coming over
both to see this great gathering, and also to have a look at you. We
heard of your doings from Van Voorden. He was good enough, after his
first interview with the king and council, to ride down to tell us how
it fared with you, and it gave us no small pleasure, as you may well
suppose, to hear that you had already gained so much credit, and that
you both were well in health, I went back to town with him, and stayed
three weeks there. There was much talk in the council. All were well
content that there should be an alliance with the Flemings, but it
seems to me there is not much chance of an English army taking the
field to help them at present.
"The king is altogether taken up with his marriage, and is thinking
much more of fêtes and pageants than of war. Then 'tis doubtful whether
the commons would grant the large sum required. The present is a bad
time; the rebellion has cost much money, and what with the destruction
of property, with the fields standing untilled, and the expenses of the
Court, which are very heavy, in truth the people have reasonable cause
for grumbling thereat. Then, again, if an army were sent to Flanders,
Lancaster would most surely have the command, and you know how much he
is hated, and, I may say, feared. Naught will persuade men that he has
not designs upon the crown. For this I can see no warrant, but
assuredly he loves power, and he and Gloucester overshadow the king.
"Then, again, his wishes are, certainly, to lead a great army into
Spain, and he would oppose money being spent on operations in Flanders.
Thus, I fear, our alliance is like to be but of little use to Ghent or
Flanders. Were but the Black Prince or his father upon the throne
things would be different indeed, and we should have a stout army here
before many weeks are over. We of the old time feel it hard indeed to
see England playing so poor a part. There is another reason, moreover,
why our barons do not press matters on. In the first place, they are
jealous of the influence that the king's favourites have with him, and
that those who, by rank and age, should be his councillors meet with
but a poor reception when they come to Court.
"But methinks that even these things hinder much less than the conduct
of the people of Ghent. Since Bruges was captured there have been, as
you know, parties going through the land as far as the frontiers of
France, plundering and destroying all the houses and castles of the
knights and nobles, under the complaint that they were favourable to
the earl, but in truth chiefly because these knaves hate those of
gentle blood and are greedy of plunder. Our nobles deem it--and
methinks that they have some reason for doing so--to be a business
something like that which we have had in England, save that with us it
was the country people, while here it is those of the towns who would
fain pull down and destroy all those above them in station. Certainly,
their acts are not like to win the friendship and assistance of our
English nobles and knights."
"Indeed, I see that, Sir Ralph," Edgar said. "At first we were greatly
in favour of Ghent, seeing that they were in a desperate strait and
that all reasonable terms were refused them, but of late we have not
been so warm in their cause. Van Artevelde himself is assuredly honest
and desirous of doing what is right, but methinks he does wrong in
keeping up the state of a king and bearing himself towards all those of
the other cities of Flanders as if Ghent were their conqueror, and
laying heavy taxes upon them, while he himself is swayed by the
councils of the most violent of the demagogues of Ghent."
"But now tell me--how goes on the siege?"
"It goes not on at all. Oudenarde is a strong place; it is defended by
many broad ditches, and has a garrison of knights and men-at-arms of
the earl, who, as we know, take upon themselves all the defence,
knowing that there are men in the town who would fain surrender, and
fearing that these would throw open the gates to us, or give us such
aid as they could, were there a chance. Still more, the siege goes on
but slowly, or rather we may say goes on not at all, for want of a
leader. Van Artevelde himself knows nothing whatever of the business of
war, nor do any of those about him.
"The men of the towns will all fight bravely in a pitched field, as
they have often shown, but as to laying a siege, they know naught of
it, and it seems to us that the matter might go on for a year and yet
be no nearer its end. They are far more occupied in making ordinances
and collecting contributions, and in doing all they can for the honour
and glory of Ghent, than in thinking of taking Oudenarde, which,
indeed, when captured, would be of no great consequence to them."
Sir Ralph nodded. "Methinks you are right, Edgar. I arrived here just
as you went out this morning, and hearing from your men that you were
not like to return till midday, I have ridden round to see what was
being done, and to my surprise saw that, in the three months since this
great host sat down before Oudenarde, naught of any use whatever has
been accomplished. With such an army, if Flanders wishes to maintain
her freedom, she should have summoned Burgundy to abstain from giving
aid to the earl, and on his refusal should have marched with her whole
force against him, captured some of his great towns, and met his host
in a fair field. Methinks you two are doing no good to yourselves here,
and that it will be just as well for you both to go back to England for
a time, until you see how matters shape themselves."