In the meantime, the parts of the Netherlands which belonged to France resembled a desert.

The monasteries which were there founded were established, according to the words of their charters, amid immense solitudes; and the French nobles only came into Brabant for the sport of bear-hunting in its interminable forests.

Thus, while the inhabitants of the low lands, as far back as the light of history penetrates, appear in a continual state of improvement, those of the high grounds, after frequent vicissitudes, seem to sink into utter degeneracy and subjugation.

The latter wished to denaturalize themselves, and become as though they were foreigners even on their native soil; the former remained firm and faithful to their country and to each other.
But the growth of French power menaced utter ruin to this interesting race.

Clovis had succeeded about the year 485 of our era, in destroying the last remnants of Roman domination in Gaul.