927-942 three most influential chieftains, Oslac, courteous Botho Count of Bayeux, and Bernard the grey932-933 bearded Dane, continued faithful; good men and true were they, trusty, affectionate and sage. Moreover, a chosen body of soldiery, three hundred of the élite, held to him loyally; thus supported, he might surely have defied the enemy.But he persisted in his bewilderment; no precautions were adopted to obstruct or impede the advance of the Insurgents, no outposts stationed, no council held, no means of defence employed. Upon one object only could Guillaume collect his thoughts. Espriota great with child-Espriota's safety. The burthened consort was sent by her anxious and affectionate husband to the newlyerected Palace of Fécamp, so that she might speedily cross over to England, and dwell there with the royal exiles, the young Louis and Ogiva, sheltered by magnanimous Athelstane's friendship and hospitality.-His own Norman sovereignty Guillaume deemed to be lost. § 19. Guillaume Longue-épée retreated into Rouen with his adherents, and, offering terms, vainly attempted to effect a pacification.-TerriOffers tory he could not consent to surrender; but his made by Guillaume treasure and stores, his armoury's contents, should surgents. all be theirs; baldricks and bracelets, helms and to the in hauberks, battle-axes and swords, decked and adorned with gems and gold. His opponents should enjoy his highest confidence and exclusive favour. Whatever they, his perpetual Councillors, 927-942 enjoined, he would obey: raise up or cast down according to their desire: their advice should 932-933 govern the country; and his authority be in all respects subordinate to theirs-Normandy would become a Commonwealth, in which the Duke might enjoy an honorary precedence, but their power would be pre-excellent above his own. refused. Again, Guillaume Longue-épée, if sincere— and could he be sincere ?-did overmuch. Instead His offers of inspiring gratitude, the extravagant liberality of this constitutional charter excited vehement suspicion. The Insurgents could not believe him -a French device to cheat us, said they.-He wishes to gain time, and then he will come down upon us with all the power of his French friends and French allies.-No impediment was offered. Onwards the revolters marched, the people joining them. They crossed the broad and flowing The inSeine; and, directing their route along the North- march to ern bank, stationed themselves opposite Rollo's station castle, Guillaume's palace, the citadel of Rouen. before the The position they occupied was then an open mead, now covered with avenues, buildings and gardens. The actual presence of the Insurgents encreased Guillaume's dismay. Another despairing attempt was made by the trembling Sovereignthey should have all they asked-all the country as far as the Rîle, and more-all the territory surgents Rouen, and themselves City. Further concessions by Guillaume, which are also re fused. 927-942 between the Rîle and the Seine to be theirs also. Nothing would remain to him except the rem932-933 nant between Seine and Epte,-that is to saythe Pays de Caux, portions of the Vexin and the Rouennois, and his city of Rouen.-The suspicions, the distrust, and also the boldness of the Insurgents, encreased in proportion to the widening extent of Guillaume's concessions. If not proposed despised as an artifice, his proposition must be construed as amounting to a virtual abdication. The land he offers to give us, said they, is not his to give we have got it, he is a stranger to us, our natural enemy, he shall no longer rule over us in anywise, let him, if he thinks fit, take refuge amongst his French kinsmen and French friends, the sooner the better: we will have none of him. — Guillaume Longue-épée might be permitted to evacuate the city. Thus far they would respect the son of Rollo. But if he rejected the offer, no further amnesty would be granted to him-the City stormed, and he and all his adherents put to the sword. Guillaume Distracted Guillaume assembled his Chiefabandon tains and soldiery, and sallied forth from Rouen, proposes to Normandy. marshalling his troops upon a rising ground, the Mont Riboudet, whence he could observe the enemy's forces. His sight confused by terror, the insurgent Host appeared to him overwhelming: he would make any sacrifice by which he might purchase a respite from the impending danger. Addressing Bernard the Dane, he declared his 927-942 determination of abandoning Normandy, and taking refuge with his good uncle Bernard de 932-933 Senlis, now, thanks to Count Herbert, Lord of Coucy-he would dwell under his uncle's protection until, through that powerful kinsman's help and advice, he could obtain the assistance of the French armies, and exterminate the rebels. the Dane's tion. § 20. To Bernard the Dane, though so Bernard faithful and affectionate, this craven cowardice indignawas intolerable. The proud and antient warrior spurned the allegiance he had rendered to the degenerate son of Rollo: he bitterly upbraided Guillaume-his intention was equally disgraceful and perilous-if Guillaume the refugee, and any who adhered to him, entered France, they would assuredly be cut off by the inimical people, still smarting from the Danish ravages; mourning over the extorted Dane-geld. As far as the Epte, he, Bernard, and the soldiery would escort Guillaume, and then, destitute of Leader and Chieftain, embark in a body for Denmark their distant fatherland, and abandon Normandy for ever. These stinging reproaches aroused Guillaume Longue-épée as from a trance. His courage rose as suddenly as it had sunk-he himself would at once lead his forces on to battle, -literally lead them, foremost in the charge, the bearer of the Standard. His three hundred good men, trusty and true, came forward, swore they 932-933 927-942 would live or die with their Duke, and, according to the most antient Teutonic usage, the concurrent clashes of battle-axes and swords, the barditus, the rappentak, testified their solemn determination. Defeat of the insur "Pré de la The insurgents were completely routed. We gents. The lose sight of Riulph in the woods, whither he fled, bataille." and, in the first instance, escaped the pursuit of the infuriated soldiery; but he afterwards fell into Guillaume's hands, and perished miserably. It is most probable that Riulph, blinded by Guillaume's orders, died under the horrible operation; for his death excited among his kinsmen an implacable hatred of the instigator of the deed.—One, at least, never rested till Riulph's blood was avenged. His son Anquetil the brave was reported to have been slain, not fairly, but by device or fraud? Brave Guillaume had been unmanned by fear,-fear instigated the graciousmannered Guillaume to cruelty: and Dudo, the family eulogist, rejoices in recording the punishment and destruction of the enemy. Long afterwards was the triumph celebrated by Norman minstrelsy. Li pré de la bataille, fu li lieux apelé The Poet of the Plantagenets lays much emphasis |