feel, but I—I who am thy Sovereign-deem it not beneath me to repress the utterance of such feelings."

"My Liege," replied the Count, “I never loved the world-how could I love it? Never man was suited less to walk with man than I, who-tutored oft, was never taught to fashion my behaviour to suit the aspect of the times. Beholding virtue, I worshipped it—and spoke my reverence.-Seeing villany, I loathed it, and told my hatred.-At folly, I could neither smile nor weep, it so disgusted me!-Ah! my dearest Lord and Liege, I've often sighed and wished that heaven had granted me my just inheritance, that having then no further cause to toil and struggle with mankind, I might retire to my domains with your fair sister, whom you gave to mate with me, and then dream of no further happiness, than the seeing her happy and our children virtuous."

Truly then, brother," said the King, laughing, "I now rejoice you lost that process, which gained, would have lost me an able counsellor.-But my sister Jeanne, you

spoke of her just now, hast had news from her lately?"

"It was but yesterday she sent me tidings of herself.-The messenger arrived at night, and the much business of this morning left me but little thought to spend on her, and none to tell your Grace, that-thanks to God, her health is good."

"And the boy Philip, my godson, how fares he?"

"He too, is well, I thank

your

Grace," re

plied D'Artois, as arriving just before the

King's tent, he held his stirrup, and assisted him to dismount.

CHAPTER V.

"CALL hither the Abbot of Fescamp," said the King, seating himself. Yet-here he is," he continued, espying the Monk, who came forward at that instant.-" Save you, holy father!-'Tis fit that we return our thanks to God for the victory he has given us; go, therefore, and prepare the mass, and let the choristers assemble in their albs, to chaunt thanksgivings for this glad termination of our labors."

When the Te Deum had been sung, as was customary after a battle, by the victorsthough what was chaunted by the vanquished, or to whom their praises were addressed, I know not, Philip ordered an enumeration to be made of those who had fallen in battle.

Of the enemy, no less than eighteen thousand five hundred, were found lying upon the field.

The loss of the victors was comparatively small, and scarcely amounted to twelve hundred, nor amongst the slain was there found the corse of any personage of much import. The one of the greatest note who fell on that day, was a Pavisor, or shield bearer, in the service of the Count of Flanders; but of him I should not have thought it necessary to speak, had he not left a widow, destined to make a far greater figure in the world than he himself had ever done, and who-under the name of Inez-will occupy a chief place of the following history.

On the next morning happened, just that which the King predicted. The Mayor of Cassel and its chief burghers, with halters flung around their necks, clothed in mourning and bearing the mien of suppliants who humbly came to implore a pardon which they entertained small hopes of receiving, arrived in the camp, and advancing to the entrance

of the King's tent, craved to be admitted to his presence; permission being granted, the Mayor-imitated by all his suite-falling upon his knees, confessed the crimes of which his townsmen had been guilty towards the Count of Flanders as well as to their Sovereign, and then throwing the blame-one may always do this when a man is dead or out of the way and can't take his own part-upon Zannecq, he laid the keys of Cassel at Philip's feet, and submitting to his mercy, craved, if not for an entire forgiveness, yet for at least a mitigation of that punishment which the offences of himself and his fellow townsfolk, he said, merited.

The King commanded them to rise. He might have inflicted what punishment he pleased, even to that of loss of life and confiscation of goods; but Philip was naturally merciful, and imposed not such severe forfeitures as these. Yet some penalty was necessary to warn them against future disobedience; he therefore mulcted them to a large amount, and ordered the money to be paid into the Count's treasury. Besides this,