Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/243

 The Development of France 207 While the following extract from Rigord's Life of Philip Philip Augustus is not correct in all details, it illus- trates the way in which the kings of France increased their domains. In the year of our Lord's Incarnation 1184, the fifth year of Philip Augustus' reign and the twentieth of his age, a dispute arose, as is not uncommon in times of change, between Philip, most Christian king of the French, and Philip, count of Flanders, about a certain district commonly called Vermandois. The king claimed that all Vermandois, with its castles, villages, and vills, belonged by right of inheritance and suc- cession to the kings of the French; and he offered to prove it all by the testimony of clergy and laity, archbishops, bishops, counts, viscounts, and other nobles. The count of Flanders replied that he had held the land in question during the lifetime of the most Christian king Louis, of blessed memory, and had possessed it in peace, without any dispute, during many years, and was firmly resolved never to give it up so long as he lived. For the count believed that, since the king was but a lad, he could easily divert his mind from this project by promises and flattering words. Besides, it is said that many nobles were ready to support him ; but, as the proverb says, " They are sons of the winds, they weave cobwebs." At length Philip Augustus followed the advice of the princes and barons and called together all the nobles of his lands in the beautiful castle of Karnopalis, commonly called Compiegne. He took counsel with them, and collected a very large army at the city which is called Amiens. When the count of Flanders heard of the king's coming his heart rejoiced. He collected an army to oppose Philip, directed his forces against his lord, the king, and swore by the strength of his arm that he could defend himself against all men. Thus in the fifth year of his reign and the twenti- eth of his age the king entered into that land with his army,