After this, for a brief season, order reigns in Flanders.
The course of Maximilian had been stealthy, but decided.

Allying himself with the city party, he had crushed the nobles.

The power thus obtained, he then turned against the burghers.

Step by step he had trampled out the liberties which his wife and himself had sworn to protect.

He had spurned the authority of the "Great Privilege," and all other charters.
Burgomasters and other citizens had been beheaded in great numbers for appealing to their statutes against the edicts of the regent, for voting in favor of a general congress according to the unquestionable law.