numbers of them into the river; and none

would have escaped, had they chosen to pursue them further.

- When the men-at-arms returned from the chase, they drove all the peasants they could find into the town, shut them up there, set fire to it, and burned all together. Jacques Bonhomme was taken alive, and sent to the Dauphin, who, understanding that he had called himself a king, caused him to be crowned with a trivet, or the three-legged frame of an iron skellet, redhot, and so to be hanged, in requital of all his barbarous cruelties. But, truly, the punishment was as horrible as the wickedness it was intended to avenge. It is a terrible proof of the barbarism that still disgraced a period which, in some particulars, was one of considerable refinement; and the remembrance of such events gives us fresh cause to bless the goodness of God to us, whom he has sent into the world in happier days.

"And now, Henry, bring me my coat, for it is getting late, and I must be going."

FOURTH EVENING.

PHILIP VAN ARTAVELDE.

Battle of Bruges-Danger of the Earl of Flanders-Philip Van Artavelde governs all Flanders-Siege of Oudenarde-Battle of Rosebecque--Death of Philip--The War continuedPeace concluded between the Duke of Burgundy and the Ghent Men.

"Now Clara," said uncle Rupert, as he took his station by the fireside, "you shall be satisfied as to the fate of the poor Ghent

men.

"Saturday morning, which you will recollect was the 3d of May, 1382, was a fine bright day. Philip, before giving any other directions, ordered his whole army to pay their devotions to God, and masses to be said in different places, (for with them were several priests and monks,) that every man should confess himself, and make other becoming preparations, and that they should

pray to God with such truth as is felt by people looking alone to Him for mercy."

"I do not clearly understand what you mean by masses and confessing, uncle,” said Henry. "I remember your speaking of confessing before, when you told us of the speech Philip made to the people; but I did not like to interrupt you just then."

"The mass, my dear,” replied uncle Rupert, "means, properly, the administration of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, which always forms a part of the ordinary public worship in Roman Catholic churches. The Roman Catholics believe that if they, with true repentance, confess their sins to a priest, he has power, as the minister of God, to declare them in God's name pardoned; and thus it is the custom with them to confess and obtain pardon, or absolution as it is termed, before going into battle, or encountering any other great danger. If the sins committed have been very great, the priest orders the person confessing to submit to such punishment as he shall direct, such as

fasting, going on pilgrimages to the tombs of holy men who have been long dead, and for their pious lives on earth are believed by them to be now saints in heaven; whipping themselves, or wearing hair shirts'; and many other things, before he will pronounce them absolved from their sins. We, you know, do not believe that any man (for a priest, although the teacher of God's word, is but a mere man like ourselves) has power to declare that God has pardoned the sins of another. But we cannot stop now to talk more on this subject. It is sufficient for you to know what is meant by mass and confession.

1

"Mass was celebrated in seven different places, and after mass sermons were preached, which lasted an hour and a half, in which the preachers compared the Ghent men to the people of Israel, and the Earl of Flanders to Pharaoh. After the sermons Philip assembled all his men round a small hill, on which he placed himself, and made a speech to them, in which he encouraged

them to fight valiantly, and reminded them that, if they were worsted, they had no place to seek shelter in, for it was useless to think of ever returning to Ghent unless victorious. He concluded by saying, 'My good friends, you see here all your provision; divide it amoung you fairly, like brethren, without any disturbance; for when it is gone you must conquer if you wish to live."

"At these words they drew up very regularly and unloaded the carts, when the bags of bread were given out to be divided by companies, and the two tuns of wine. placed on their bottoms; and then they moderately breakfasted, each man having a sufficiency at that time; after which breakfast they found themselves more determined and active on their feet than if they had eaten more. This repast being over, they put themselves in order, and retired within their ribeaudeaus. These ribeaudeaus were tall stakes, with points shod with iron, which they were always