Truly, here was a fundamental law which largely, roundly, and reasonably recognized the existence of a people with hearts, heads, and hands of their own.  It was a vast step in advance of natural servitude, the dogma of the dark ages.  It was a noble and temperate vindication of natural liberty, the doctrine of more enlightened days.  To no people in the world more than to the stout burghers of Flanders and Holland belongs the honor of having battled audaciously and perennially in behalf of human rights.

Similar privileges to the great charter of Holland are granted to many other provinces; especially to Flanders, ever ready to stand forward in fierce vindication of freedom.  For a season all is peace and joy; but the duchess is young, weak, and a woman.  There is no lack of intriguing politicians, reactionary councillors.  There is a cunning old king in the distance, lying in wait; seeking what he can devour.  A mission goes from the estates to France.  The well-known tragedy of Imbrecourt and Hugonet occurs.  Envoys from the states, they dare to accept secret instructions from the duchess to enter into private negotiations with the French monarch, against their colleagues—­against the great charter—­against their country.  Sly Louis betrays them, thinking that policy the more expedient.  They are seized in Ghent, rapidly tried, and as rapidly beheaded by the enraged burghers.  All the entreaties of the Lady Mary, who, dressed in mourning garments, with dishevelled hair, unloosed girdle, and streaming eyes; appears at the town-house and afterwards in the market place, humbly to intercede for her servants, are fruitless There is no help for the juggling diplomatists.  The punishment was sharp.  Was it more severe and sudden than that which betrayed monarchs usually inflict?  Would the Flemings, at that critical moment, have deserved their freedom had they not taken swift and signal vengeance for this first infraction of their newly recognized rights?  Had it not been weakness to spare the traitors who had thus stained the childhood of the national joy at liberty regained?

IX.

Another step, and a wide one, into the great stream of European history.  The Lady Mary espouses the Archduke Maximilian.  The Netherlands are about to become Habsburg property.  The Ghenters reject the pretensions of the dauphin, and select for husband of their duchess the very man whom her father had so stupidly rejected.  It had been a wiser choice for Charles the Bold than for the Netherlanders.  The marriage takes place on the 18th of August, 1477.  Mary of Burgundy passes from the guardianship of Ghent burghers into that of the emperor’s son.  The crafty husband allies himself with the city party, feeling where the strength lies.  He knows that the voracious Kabbeljaws have at last swallowed the Hooks, and run away with them.  Promising himself future rights of reconsideration, he is liberal in