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tm v-: m^ 0///-, % <• 'J': WW ^^ ^ '^' \ :^^ / 7% ^m-- ^n^^ ^^- \ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Research Library, The Getty Research Institute http://www.archive.org/details/flemishrelicsarcOOstep ii ) 4 M i HOTEL DE VILLE, BRUSSELS. : FLEMISH EELICS; %nYiUtimul, ^tgtnitarg, aiib notorial, AS CONNECTED WITH PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN BELGIUM. GATHERED BV FKEDEKIC G. STEPHENS, AUTHOR OF "NORMANDY, A SKETCH," ETC. Illustrated with Photographs by CuNDAUi and Fleming. LONDON ALFRED W. BENNETT, 5, BISHOPSGATE WITHOUT. 186 6. MGtTTYCENlEh LIBRARY Ta W. m, E0$$ETTI, B^ar WiUiani, Th^ titl^ at tlus BjkiI^ indicates that its ^xjn^^m is iiith tli^ past, and that its natutxj is fragm^ntanj. The ti3xt describes the mxist famaus hnildings in the haw 6xxuntries, details much at their histxirtj and that at thnse urha nsed them, and contains remarhs itpnn jiictxtres htj Memlinc and the t|an Ei^hs. tn achnowledgment at tried affection and abundant hindness, I ixffer ia x^axx the materials I haue {gathered and the opinions I haue expressed, Jind remain, f^our old friend, September i2th, 1$6$. €auttntB. FA6B. THE CATHEDEAL OF NOTRE DAME AT TOURNAY ... ... ..< ... 41 THE ABBEY OF TILLERS 61 CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS, AND BELFRY AT GHENT ... ... ... 77 THE BELFRY OF GHENT ... 83 MAISON DES BATELIERS, GHENT 89 THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. BAVON, GHENT ... ... ... ... 90 THE HOTEL DE VILLE AT YPRES 103 THE BELFRY AT BRUGES, GRANDE PLACE ... ... ... ... 110 THE HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN AT BRUGES ... ... ... ... ... 117 THE HOTEL DE VILLE, BRUSSELS 141 THE CHURCH OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GUDULE, BRUSSELS 147 THE HOTEL DE VILLE AT LOUVAIN 151 THE CATHEDRAL OF MECHLIN 166 THE CATHEDRAL OF NOTRE DAJIE AT ANT'W'ERP ... ... ... 164 THE CHURCH OF ST. JACQUES, ANTWERP ... ... ... ... ... 170 CLOISTERS IN THE PALACE AT LIEGE 174 THE HOTEL DE VILLE AT AUDENAERDE 179 H.I.m$TE|lT$0ll$, HOTEL BE VILLE, BEUSSELS. Frontispiece INTERIOR OF THE CATSEDRAL, TOJJRNAY. 41 RUINS OF TSE ABBEY, TILLERS LA VILLE. 61 CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS AND BELFRY. GHENT 77 MAISON DES BATELIERS, GHENT. 89 HOTEL BE VILLE, YPRES 103 TOUR BES HALLES, BRUGES. 112 GRANBE PLACE, BRUSSELS. lU HOTEL BE VILLE, LOUVAIN. 151 THE CATHEDRAL, MECHLIN. 156 INTERIOR OF THE CATHEDRAL, ANTWERP 164 THE AISLES, SOUTH-SIDE, ANTWERP CATHEDRAL 165 THE CHURCH OF ST. JACQUES, ANTWERP 170 COURT OF THE BISHOP'S PALACE, LIEGE 174 HOTEL BE VILLE, AUBENAERBE 179 ; FLEMISH EELICS. ETC. iHE Frankish race, which crossed the Rhine in the third centurj, occupied in the first instance the district known as Toxandria, which extended from near Maestricht for twenty leagues along the Meuse, where now are Antwerp, Breda, and Bois-le-Duc. Julian, when he defeated the main hody of the invaders of those provinces which the Eomans stjled the Belgicae, permitted the Saliau branch of the Franks still to retain this district, on condition that its people became allies of the empire, a condition which—it is needless to remark to those who are acquainted with the antipathy so often exhibited between the Frankish and Germanic races—was fulfilled in many a battle fought against the tribes which followed in the footsteps of the imperial allies. In less ancient times the Franks appear more as the masters than the servants of the Romans this was said especially of Merobaudes, one of their kings ; the authority of Ai-bogastes, who succeeded him, was so gi-eat that when Valentinian II. desired to be independent of his general and to depose him, the troops obeyed their chief—as the poor emperor found to his cost, when they strangled him at Vienne. In the time of Honorius, the Franks were firmly established in Gaul, so that that hapless province, from the Mediterranean to the Meuse and Rhine, became a mere battle-field and stall of plunder. The best thing that ^Etius, the imperial general, could do was to employ one mass of barbarians against another. As if to make the confusion of this period complete, and display what a wilderness of slaughter the once peaceful but long emasculated province had B 2 FLEMISH RELICS. become, it is evident tliat the Franks themselves fought on opposite sides at the horrible day of Chalons (451), while it was debated whether Ctiesar's conquest—which he "pacified" at the cost of a million of its fighting men and a million sold into slavery — should belong to the Huns or to tribes less barbarous than they. On the side of Attila was a brother of Meroveus, of the long-haired race, probably descended from the Merobaudes before-named, who now contested for pre-eminence with a Meroveus who followed iEtius, and was one of the sons of that Chlodiou whom this general had defeated near Eheims in 428. At Chalons the son of Alaric the Visigoth fought with his people on the side of the Romans and was slain. Jornandes says, one hundred and sixty-two thousand vic- men were killed in this fight ; it Avas the last of the Roman tories. Exhausted by its triumph and mastered by its own allies, the empire fell from bad to worse, so that, in eifect, the ruling power in Gaul was that of the Visigoths, who, seated in Toulouse, held the southern part. The Eurguudians had the eastern iwrtion, while that in the north was in the hands of the Franks, who ultimately conquered the other tribes and divided the entire province between the sons of their king. "VVe shall confine ourselves to a sketch of the history of the latter, because the people of the provinces which the Romans styled the Belgica3, came in for the inheritance of Ca)sar, founded the political power of the Fmnkcnric, or Freeland, and gave the impetus which produced France, to which, for many ages, Flanders was attached. So confused is the history of these times that Gregory of Tours, one of the best of the ancient writers (539—595), says not a word about the Pharamond of whom the French historians have made so much, and who plays so distinguished a part in the historical romances which were in vogue a few years since. The authorities for the existence of Chlodion and even of Meroveus are not beyond suspicion when they represent them as sole rulers of the people from 420 until 448. The historian of Tours, although living so near in time to this period, is uncertain about them. The Childeric, who is, after all, the earliest known ruler of that branch of the Franks which settled itself at Tournay, was a remarkable man, remarkable in his wife, and still more so in his son Clovis. Cliilderic carried his youthful gallantries to such an extent that the ; CHILDEKIC S VISION. d tribe banished him ; he found refuge with Basinus, king of the Thuringians, whose queen, Basina, received him with even greater kindness than that of her husband.* His tribe during his absence was governed by Egidius, the so-called Eoman General at Soissons. At the end of eight years Childeric was re-invested with power at home. Hardly was this affair settled, when, to the astonishment of the Frank, Basina presented herself with the avowed intention of marrvinji him. The amazed Childeric asked the " reason" for her journey and this resolve. She replied that he was the most valiant, strongest, and handsomest man she had heard of, and that if she knew another who surpassed him in those qualities, not even the sea should keep her from him. The king could not resist such vigorous courtship, and married this self-willed lady, who had formerly been his mistress.! Such was the mother of Clovis. Childeric died and was buried at Tournay, in 481. Of the singular discovery of his grave and its treasures, we shall speak further on. Clovis became king when he was fifteen years of age, but did nothing to distinguish himself until five jeavs later, when he led the whole force of the Salian Franks, which was not more than five thousand warriors, to unite with Ragnacar, the Frankish king of Cambray, in an attack on Siagrius, the quasi-Homiin chief of the militia at Soissons, and defeated him. t The place of battle was at * It was strange that he should find a refuge among the Thuringians, be- cause this veiy people had, when defeated on the side of Attila, at the battle of Chalons, retreated through the countrj^ of the Franks, and exercised the most atrocious cruelties upon those who fell into their hands. " They murdered the hostages and the captives, slew two hundred young women by exquisite tor- tiu-es, cast their limbs beneath the heavy waggons, and left them hi the road." To them, nevertheless, Cliilderic went, and was doubly well received. this practised f If Gregory of Tours is to be believed, lady must have magical arts. On the night of thek nuptials she persuaded Childeric to go into the courtyard of the palace at Tournay, where they were lodged, in order that he might see the wonderful appearances wliich would present themselves. He went thrice. On the first occasion there came before hmi a long rout of unicorns, lions, and leopards, tumbling and wrangling with each other, but all •ndthout a sound, and shadowless. The second tune produced bears and wolves tlie first shambled across tlie courtyard and vanished while the king looked at the third them ; the others ran in circles and leapt, but qiiite silently. On visit there appeared multitudes of dogs of great size and many colours, and innumerable cats, that always looked behind them. From the diversity and characteristics of these apparitions, Childeric was instructed to learn what were the quahties of the races which would arise from his imion with Basina.

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