History of Holland | Page 6

to be so until the
disastrous times of Philip II of Spain. Meanwhile Holland and Zeeland,
though unable to compete with Brabant and Flanders in the
populousness of their towns and the extent of their trade, were
provinces of growing importance. Their strength lay in their sturdy and
enterprising sea-faring population. The Hollanders had for many years
been the rivals of the Hanse Towns for the Baltic trade. War broke out
in 1438 and hostilities continued for three years with the result that the
Hanse League was beaten, and henceforth the Hollanders were able
without further let or hindrance more and more to become the chief
carriers of the "Eastland" traffic. Amsterdam was already a flourishing
port, though as yet it could make no pretension of competing with
Antwerp. The herring fisheries were, however, the staple industry of
Holland and Zeeland. The discovery of the art of curing herrings by
William Beukelsz of Biervliet (died 1447) had converted a perishable
article of food into a marketable commodity; and not only did the
fisheries give lucrative employment to many thousands of the
inhabitants of these maritime provinces, but they also became the
foundation on which was to be built their future commercial
supremacy.
The Burgundian dukes were among the most powerful rulers of their
time--the equals of kings in all but name--and they far surpassed all

contemporary sovereigns in their lavish display and the splendour of
their court. The festival at Bruges in 1430 in celebration of the marriage
of Philip the Good and Isabel of Portugal, at which the Order of the
Golden Fleece was instituted, excited universal wonder; while his
successor, Charles the Bold, contrived to surpass even his father in the
splendour of his espousals with Margaret of York in 1468, and at his
conference with the Emperor Frederick III at Trier in 1473. On this last
occasion he wore a mantle encrusted all over with diamonds.
The foundation of the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1430 was an event
of great importance, as marking a step forward on the part of Philip in
its assumption of quasi-regal attributes. The title was very appropriate,
for it pointed to the wool and cloth trade as being the source of the
wealth of Flanders. The Order comprised thirty-one knights, chosen
from the flower of the Burgundian nobles and the chief councillors of
the sovereign. The statutes of the Order set forth in detail the privileges
of the members, and their duties and obligations to their prince. They
had a prescriptive claim to be consulted on all matters of importance, to
be selected for the chief government posts, and to serve on military
councils. The knights were exempt from the jurisdiction of all courts,
save that of their own chapter.
Philip died in 1467 and was succeeded by his son, Charles, who had
already exercised for some years authority in the Netherlands as his
father's deputy. Charles, as his surname le Téméraire witnesses, was a
man of impulsive and autocratic temperament, but at the same time a
hard worker, a great organiser, and a brilliant soldier. Consumed with
ambition to realise that restoration of a great middle Lotharingian
kingdom stretching from the North Sea to the Mediterranean, for which
his father had been working during his long and successful reign, he
threw himself with almost passionate energy into the accomplishment
of his task. With this object he was the first sovereign to depart from
feudal usages and to maintain a standing army. He appeared at one time
to be on the point of accomplishing his aim. Lorraine, which divided
his southern from his northern possessions, was for a short time in his
possession. Intervening in Gelderland between the Duke Arnold of
Egmont and his son Adolf, he took the latter prisoner and obtained the

duchy in pledge from the former. Uprisings in the Flemish towns
against heavy taxation and arbitrary rule were put down with a strong
hand. In September, 1474, the duke, accompanied by a splendid suite,
met the emperor Frederick III at Trier to receive the coveted crown
from the imperial hands. It was arranged that Charles' only daughter
and heiress should be betrothed to Maximilian of Austria, the emperor's
eldest son, and the very day and hour for the coronation were fixed. But
the Burgundian had an enemy in Louis XI of France, who was as
prudent and far-seeing as his rival was rash and impetuous, and who
was far more than his match in political craft and cunning. French
secret agents stirred up Frederick's suspicions against Charles' designs,
and the emperor suddenly left Trier, where he had felt humiliated by
the splendour of his powerful vassal.
The duke was furious at his disappointment, but was only the more
obstinately bent on carrying out his plans. But Louis had