862-863 than wise. Could Judith have been recovered 862-888 from Baudouin, she would have left her character behind her: there would have been no help but to confine the wanton in a monastery. If she continued with the Forester, he, provoked by the father's conduct, had it in his power to become a very dangerous enemy. The forests of Flanders extended over Lotharingian ground: the coasts were open to the Northmen; and there soon became reason to apprehend that he might make common cause with the enemy. But Baudouin though venturesome, was neither obdurate nor perverse. He and Judith sought the mediation of the Holy See. Pope Nicholas interceded earnestly both with Charles-le-Chauve and Hermentruda. To the king, he pointed out the political dangers which might ensue, were reconciliation refused; his appeal to the mother's affection was grounded upon the contrition of 863 the delinquents. Baudouin and Judith repaired Baldwin to Charles-le-Chauve at Soissons. They were married restored to favour, and by his consent they were elopement. married at Auxerre; yet he emphatically testified his opinion of their conduct by refusing to be present at the nuptials. Oct. and Judith after their state of the territory of Flanders. Flanders hitherto had no political existence. Antient Previously to Baudouin's era, Flanders or "Flandria" is a designation belonging, as learned men conjecture, to a Gau or Pagus, afterwards known as the Franc de Bruges, and noticed only in a 862-863 forest and marshcountry. 862-888 single charter. Popularly, the name of Flanders had obtained with respect to a much larger surrounding Belgic country, an extensive district, whose boundaries were indicated by natural or peculiar characters, rather than constituted by precise demarcations: other examples occur of this habitual and intelligible though somewhat indeterminate chorography-Take for instance, Le Bocage in France, or the Weald, High-Suffolk, Flanders, a or the Fen Country in England. The name of "Flanders” was thus given to the wide, and in a degree indefinite tract, of which the Forester Baudouin and his predecessors had the official range or care. According to the idiom of the Middle Ages, the term "Forest" did not exactly convey the idea which the word now suggests, not being applied exclusively to wood-land, but to any wild and unreclaimed region; and Flanders, though containing fine and noble wood-lands, also inIcluded vast extents of moors and downs and plashes and marshes, bordered by the Ocean on the North and by the Ardennes on the South, of which large portions remained uncleared. Excellent commencements had however been made. Saint Audomerus, Saint Amandus, Saint Bavon, and their companions and disciples, guided and directed those agricultural colonists, who, labouring in the service of their Divine Master, and converting the sentence of toil into a perennial blessing, gave the first impulse to that 862-863 tions of and their quences. industry which has rendered the Netherlands the 862-888 Garden of the North. But the inhabitants always needed to struggle against the waters; and any etymology of the name of Flamingia, or Flanders, which we can guess at, seems intended to designate that the land was so called from being half- Inundadrowned. Thirty-five inundations, which afflicted Flanders, the country at various intervals from the tenth conseto the sixteenth century, have entirely altered the coast-line; and the interior features of the. country, though less affected, have been much changed by the diversions which the river-courses have sustained: fertile pastures on the sea-bord severed and channelled into islands, islands worn into sand-banks, and the sand-banks ultimately submerged by the invincible element. These physical catastrophes produced remarkable political and moral consequences in other countries not touched by the waves. Numbers of the sturdy natives emigrated, seeking new homes, working their way and fighting their way. Some were driven back into Germany, others forward into the British islands. They principally sought or were invited into the territories of the Celtic races, whom they consumed. Scotland, Wales and Ireland bear testimony to the Flemish energy. The plough, speeded by mammon, may become an engine of human destruction, desolating as the sword. Whatever had been the original amplitude of 877-888 the districts over which Baudouin had any controul or authority, the boundaries were 862 Flanders enlarged and defined. Kneeling before Charlesgranted to le-Chauve, placing his hands between the hands Baudouin ditary as an here- of the Sovereign, he received his "honour:"County or the Forester of Flanders was created Count or Marqui sate. Children of Baudouin Marquis. All the countries between the Scheldt, the Somme and the sea, became his Benefice; so that only a narrow and contested tract divided Baudouin's Flanders from Normandy. According to an antient nomenclature, ten Counties, to wit, Theerenburch, Arras, Boulogne, Guisnes, SaintPaul, Hesdin, Blandemont, Bruges, Harlebec and Tournay, were comprehended in the noble grant which Baudouin obtained from his father-in-law. The development of Flanders and her feudal dependencies is an integral portion of European history, requiring the labours of those competent to perform the neglected task. Baudouin and Judith's first child was named and Judith. Charles; but the infant died. Judith sorrowed died an in- much at his death, which she attributed to the Charles fant. 877-919 Baudouin le-Chauve. want of mother's milk; and she therefore determined herself to give suck to the next babe, named Baudouin after his father. The Lieutenant-bailli of Tournay expatiates upon the maternal conduct of "Madame Judith," a reproach to the matronly luxury and self-indulgence of his times. Baudouin the Second's manly vigour did 877-919 credit to his mother's tenderness. When he 877-888 grew up to man's estate, he assumed the epithet of le-Chauve, in honour of his Imperial Grandfather, though his locks were abundant as those adorning any Merovingian King. Judith's first two husbands had in a manner connected Flanders with England. Baudouin-le-Chauve renewed the connexion more creditably, by marrying Elfreda or Elftruda, king Alfred's daughter. Baudouin Bras-de-fer, once settled in his dominion, almost disappears from notice. His renown may have scared the Northman-at all events, so long as he lived, no important invasions of his honours or territories are recorded. Subsequently to his marriage hardly anything is commemorated concerning him, except useful works and good works, towns and fortresses improved, monasteries endowed, charity abundantly bestowed. In the centre of Ghent we may yet see the dark battered towers surrounding the 'Sgravesteen or Petra Comitis, the castellated palace of Baudouin-Bras-de-fer: the Second Baudouin added the fortifications which defended the birthplace of Charles-Quint. douin-le The eldest son and successor of Baudouin-le- Arnoul-leVieux, son Chauve was Arnoul, who obtained the epithet of of Baule-Vieux. Fourth in descent from this Arnoul Chauve. was Baudouin-de-Lisle, father of the Conqueror's faithful and affectionate Matilda. All these matters are of great interest to us: Normandy scarcely |