e ca_--the Netherlands and not from
the Burgundies. Secondly, they wished a definite assessment imposed on
each province. Thirdly, they desired a declaration that the fiefs and
arriere-fiefs already bound to furnish troops should be exempt from
share in this tax. The remonstrance was courtly in tone. Written
in French, the concluding phrases were in Latin and suggested that
nothing was more becoming a prince than clemency, especially towards
his subjects.[8]

Vigorous and emphatic was the prince's response.[9] How could Burgundy
furnish money? It is a poor land. It takes after France.[10] But its
men make a third of the army. They are the Burgundian contribution. As
to an assessment, what is the use unless the tax is surely to be paid?
Only out of malice is this idle point suggested.

"You act as you have always done--you Flemings. Neither to my
father nor to me have you ever been liberal. What you have
granted--sometimes more than our request--has always been given so
tardily as to prove the lack of good will. Your Flemish skulls
are hard and thick and you cling to your stubborn and perverse
opinions.... I am half of France and half of Portugal and I know
how to meet such heads as yours, ay and _will_ do it. You have
always either hated or despised your prince--if powerful you
hated, if weak you despised. I prefer your hatred to your
contempt. Not for your privileges or anything else will I permit
myself to be trampled on--and I have the power to prevent such
trampling."

Laying stress on the extreme modesty of his demand, whose purpose
mainly was for defence of Flanders, the duke proceeded to berate
his visitors soundly for their presumptuous haggling, declaring
that as to the fiefs and arriere-fiefs he would see to it that no
double burdens were borne.

"And when you shall have determined to accord my request,--which
you will assuredly do (and I do not mean to burden you further
unless I am forced to it),--send some of your deputies after me to
Lille or St. Omer, and there, with my chancellor and my council, I
will determine the apportionment and we will speak also of other
matters touching my province of Flanders."

It was this vehement oratory--and this vehemence was repeated on many
occasions--that did more to alienate Charles from his hereditary
subjects than his actual demands. There is little doubt that his
period