V. DAMME--THE SEA-FIGHT AT SLUIS--SPLENDOUR OF BRUGES IN THE MIDDLE AGES--THE FALL AND LOSS OF TRADE 49 VI. 'BRUGES LA MORTE' 63 VII. THE PLAIN OF WEST FLANDERS--YPRES 83 VIII. FURNES--THE PROCESSION OF PENITENTS 109 IX. NIEUPORT--THE BATTLE OF THE DUNES 119 X. THE COAST OF FLANDERS 129 XI. COXYDE--THE SCENERY OF THE DUNES 151 XII. GHENT 163 XIII. THE DUKES OF BRABANT--THE JOYEUSE ENTRÉE--END OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY 175 XIV. THE BOMBARDMENT OF 1695--THE GRANDE PLACE--CHURCH OF STE. GUDULE --CHARLES OF LORRAINE 195 XV. JOSEPH II AND THE REVOLUTION OF BRABANT 209 XVI. THE JACOBINS OF BRUSSELS--VISIT OF NAPOLEON--THE HUNDRED DAYS 219 XVII. THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT--THE REVOLUTION OF 1830 233 XVIII. THE VICISSITUDES OF ANTWERP 243 XIX. THE PRINCIPALITY OF LIÉGE 273 XX. EARLY HISTORY OF LIÉGE--BISHOP NOTGER--THE COURT OF PEACE 279 XXI. THE DUKES OF BURGUNDY--DESTRUCTION OF LIÉGE BY CHARLES THE BOLD 295 XXII. THE WILD BOAR OF ARDENNES 313 XXIII. ÉRARD DE LA MARCK--THE PRINCIPALITY IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY 325 XXIV. THE CHIROUX AND THE GRIGNOUX--THE TRAGIC BANQUET OF WARFUSÉE 339 XXV. THE GAMING-TABLES AT SPA--THE FRENCH REVOLUTION-- ANNEXATION OF THE PRINCIPALITY 353 XXVI. LIÉGE AND THE VALLEY OF THE MEUSE IN MODERN TIMES--BOUILLON 363 INDEX 377 List of Illustrations 1. Hôtel de Ville, Brussels (showing La Maison des Brasseurs, La Maison du Cygne, and La Maison de l'Étoile) _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE 2. A Corner of the Market on the Grande Place, Bruges 6 3. Bell-ringer playing a Chime 8 4. Porte d'Ostende, Bruges 10 5. Rue de l'Âne Aveugle (showing end of Town Hall and Bridge connecting it with Palais de Justice), Bruges 14 6. Quai du Rosaire, Bruges 18 7. The Béguinage, Bruges 24 8. Quai des Marbriers, Bruges 38