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and bade her keep her eyes firmly fixed upon the lions； then；
step by step； those two foolhardy young persons backed slowly out
of the danger into which they had so thoughtlessly and
unnecessarily forced themselves。
The lions' gate closed behind them with a clang； the shouts of
approval and of welcome sounded from the thronging gallery； and
over all they heard the voice of the Lord of Holland mingling
commendation and praise with censure for the rashness of their
action。
And it WAS a rash and foolish act。 But we must remember that
those were days when such feats were esteemed as brave and
valorous。 For the Princess Jaqueline of Holland was reared in the
school of so…called chivalry and romance； which in her time was
fast approaching its end。 She was； indeed； as one historian
declares； the last heroine of knighthood。 Her very titles suggest
the days of chivalry。 She was Daughter of Holland； Countess of
Ponthieu； Duchess of Berry； Lady of Crevecoeur； of Montague and
Arloeux。 Brought up in the midst of tilts and tournaments； of
banquets and feasting； and all the lavish display of the rich
Bavarian court； she was； as we learn from her chroniclers； the
leader of adoring knights and vassals； the idol of her parents；
the ruler of her soft…hearted boy husband； an expert falconer； a
daring horsewoman； and a fearless descendant of those woman
warriors of her race； Margaret the Empress； and Philippa the
Queen； and of a house that traced its descent through the warlike
Hohenstaufens back to Charlemagne himself。
All girls admire bravery； even though not themselves personally
courageous。 It is not； therefore； surprising that this intrepid
and romance…reared young princess； the wife of a lad for whom she
never especially cared； and whose society had for political
reasons been forced upon her； should have placed as the hero of
her admiration； next to her own fearless father； not the Dauphin
John of France； but this brave young rebel lad； Otto； the Lord of
Arkell。
But the joyous days of fete and pleasure at Quesnoy； at Paris；
and The Hague were fast drawing to a close。 On the fourth of
April； 1417； the Dauphin John died by poisoning； in his father's
castle at Compiegnethe victim of those terrible and relentless
feuds that were then disgracing and endangering the feeble throne
of France。
The dream of future power and greatness as Queen of France； in
which the girl wife of the Dauphin had often indulged； was thus
rudely dispelled； and Jacqueline returned to her father's court
in Holland； no longer crown princess and heiress to a throne； but
simply 〃Lady of Holland。〃
But in Holland； too； sorrow was in store for her。 Swiftly
following the loss of her husband； the Dauphin； came the still
heavier blow of her father's death。 On the thirtieth of May；
1417； Count William died in his castle of Bouchain； in Hainault；
and his sorrowing daughter Jacqueline； now a beautiful girl of
sixteen； succeeded to his titles and lordship as Countess and
Lady Supreme of Hainault； of Holland； and of Zealand。
For years； however； there had been throughout the Low Countries a
strong objection to the rule of a woman。 The death of Count
William showed the Cods a way toward greater liberty。 Rebellion
followed rebellion； and the rule of the Countess Jacqueline was
by no means a restful one。
And chief among the rebellious spirits； as leader and counsellor
among the Cods； appeared the brave lad who had once been the
companion of the princess in danger； the young Lord of Arkell。
It was he who lifted the standard of revolt against her regency。
Placing the welfare of Holland above personal friendship； and
sinking； in his desire for glory； even the chivalry of that day；
which should have prompted him to aid rather than annoy this
beautiful girl； he raised a considerable army among the knights
of the Cods； or liberal party； and the warlike merchants of the
cities； took possession of many strong positions in Holland； and
occupied； among other places； the important town of Gorkum on the
Maas。 The stout citadel of the town； was； however； garrisoned
with loyal troops。 This the Lord of Arkell beseiged； and；
demanding its surrender； sent also a haughty challenge to the
young countess； who was hastening to the relief of her
beleaguered town。
Jacqueline's answer was swift and unmistakable。 With three
hundred ships and six thousand knights and men…at…arms； she
sailed from the old harbor of Rotterdam； and the lion…flag of her
house soon floated above the loyal citadel of Gorkum。
Her doughty Dutch general； von Brederode； counselled immediate
attack； but the girl countess； though full of enthusiasm and
determination； hesitated。
From her station in the citadel she looked over the scene before
her。 Here； along the low bank of the river Maas； stretched the
camp of her own followers； and the little gayly colored boats
that had brought her army up the river from the red roofs of
Rotterdam。 There； stretching out into the flat country beyond the
straggling streets of Gorkum； lay the tents of the rebels。 And
yet they were all her countrymenrebels and retainers alike。
Hollanders all； they were ever ready to combine for the defence
of their homeland when threatened by foreign foes or by the
destroying ocean floods。
Jacqueline's eye caught the flutter of the broad banner of the
house of Arkell that waved over the rebel camp。
Again she saw the brave lad who alone of all her father's court；
save she； had dared to face Count William's lions； again the
remembrance of how his daring had made him one of her heroes；
filled her heart； and a dream of what might be possessed her。 Her
boy husband； the French Dauphin； was dead； and she was pledged by
her dying father's command to marry her cousin； whom she
detested； Duke John of Brabant。 But how much better； so she
reasoned； that the name and might of her house as rulers of
Holland should be upheld by a brave and fearless knight。 On the
impulse of this thought she summoned a loyal and trusted vassal
to her aid。
〃Von Leyenburg；〃 she said； 〃go you in haste and in secret to the
Lord of Arkell； and bear from me this message for his ear alone。
Thus says the Lady of Holland： 'Were it not better； Otto of
Arkell； that we join hands in marriage before the altar； than
that we spill the blood of faithful followers and vassals in a
cruel fight？'〃
It was a singular； and perhaps； to our modern ears； a most
unladylike proposal； but it shows how； even in the heart of a
sovereign countess and a girl general； warlike desires may give
place to gentler thoughts。
To the Lord Arkell； however； this unexpected proposition came as
an indication of weakness。
〃My lady countess fears to face my determined followers；〃 he
thought。 〃Let me but force this fight and the victory is mine。 In
that is greater glory and more of power than being husband to the
Lady of Holland。〃
And so he returned a most ungracious answer：
〃Tell the Countess Jacqueline；〃 he said to the knight of
Leyenburg； 〃that the honor of her hand I cannot accept。 I am her
foe； and would rather die than marry her。〃
All the hot blood of her ancestors flamed in wrath as young
Jacqueline heard this reply of the rebel lord。
〃Crush we these rebel curs； von Brederode；〃 she cried； pointing
to the banner of Arkell； 〃for by my father's memory； they shall
have neither mercy nor life from me。〃
Fast upon the curt refusal of the Lord of Arkell came his message
of defiance。
〃Hear ye； Countess of Holland；〃 rang out the challenge of the
herald of Arkell； as his trumpet…blast sounded before the gate of
the citadel； 〃the free Lord of Arkell here giveth you word and
warning that he will fight against you on the morrow！〃
And from the citadel came back this ringing reply； as the knight
of Leyenburg made answer for his sovereign lady：
〃Hear ye； sir Herald； and answer thus to the rebel Lord of
Arkell： 'For the purpose of fighting him came we here； and fight
him we will； until he and his rebels are beaten and dead。' Long
live our Sovereign Lady of Holland！〃
On the morrow； a murky December day； in the year 1417； the battle
was joined； as announced。 On the low plain beyond the city；
knights and men…at…arms； archers and spearmen； closed in the
shock of battle； and a stubborn and bloody fight it was。
Seven times did the knights of Jacqueline； glittering in their
steel armor； clash into the rebel ranks； seven times were they
driven back； until； at last； the Lord of Arkell； with a fiery
charge； forced them against the very gates of the citadel。 The
brave von Brederode fell pierced with wounds； and the day seemed
lost； indeed； to the Lady of Holland。
Then Jacqueline the Countess； seeing her cause in dangerlike
another Joan of Arc； though she was indeed a younger and much
more beautiful girl general；seized the lion…ba