944-945

table would not have equalled the worth of that 942-954 precious ensign. Never had there been seen a more unsparing display of noble armour, spirited horses, and a more brilliant and imposing army.

The gorgeousness of the Court was conjoined to martial dignity. The Camp was furnished with all the appliances of luxury. Rich tapestry; silken hangings and chests filled with robes of estate; salvers and beakers, and drinking-horns mounted in gold and silver. The banquets were continued, as usual, until late in the night; and the French were exalted to the highest state of ominous enthusiasm by this last and fatal flash of the expiring Carlovingian glories.

Very different was the sober aspect of their opponents assembled on the opposite bank, around or nigh the salt-marshes of Corbon. No movements had taken place on the part of Harold. There were the mixed hosts of Pagan Danes and Norman Danes, and all the levies of the "Oultre-Seine." Their tranquillity might inspire greater dread than any cry of war.

may be 12 July, sanguine Conference

945.

between

gravely the Danes

and the

The French exulted loudly, yet it doubted if their hopes were really so as the anticipations entertained by the taciturn Danes. Our trusty Trouveur the conference a "Parliament;" and the Danes of the Dive, fully expected that this same Parliament, commencing with a debate, would terminate in a

terms French on

battle. Assuredly, the flowing river severed the

the banks

942-954 antagonistic Hosts, and it had been agreed that each Monarch should abide on his own border;

944-945 but we may be certain that the Danes who courted the conflict and knew the country well, had fully ascertained the points and positions where they might most easily cross over.

military

The transactions between the Powers were opened by the intervention of their respective representatives. Messages were transmitted and answers returned, but conveyed in language so intemperate, that the proceedings can hardly be termed negotiations. The Monarchs mutually exchanged volleys of vituperation. Harold upbraided Louis with all his treacheries; neither faith nor covenant had Louis kept, never had any King dared to commit so foul a wrong or perpetrate such an outrage as Louis, against his sworn and faithful liegeman, the murdered Guillaume Longue-épée. The proud French Monarch retorted by angry threats: Harold, even if he escaped from Normandy, would have reason to repent him of his audacity. However, after these silly scoldings it was agreed that the conference should be adjourned unto the following day, the Kings again to meet on the eastern side of the Dive; Harold apparently repairing to Louis as his superior.

Want of So confident, or rather foolhardy, were the precaution French, that Louis, a General, renowned, and

on the side

of the French.

justly, for vigilance and strategic skill, though

944-945

in the very presence of a wily and audacious 942-954 enemy, had not thought of adopting any of the ordinary precautions which ought to be almost intuitive in a soldier: he had completely neglected the examination of the country. The French heeded not the vicinity of the rueful ford. No outposts were stationed, no scouts sent out, no sentinels set to make the rounds; but, as soon as the eve came on, the tables were spread, and the French prepared by their usual jollities for whatever the morrow-the feast of Saint Eugenius-might bring forth, whether for good, whether for evil. Such was not the bearing of their keen enemies. With them, "boot and Vigilance of saddle" had sounded ere the faint twilight had begun to peer in the verge of the clear and placid horizon. At the hour of tierce, whilst Louis and his merry men were still deadened by the potency of their wine, Harold and his forces had long since crossed the Dive.-Old Bernard also, awaiting the deliverers of the Land, had he not been watching to greet the bright dawning of the glorious summer-day?

the Danes.

13 July,

945.

cross the

Firmly and briskly were the Danes advancing, battalion following battalion. No check The Danes offered, no obstacle opposed, no challenge given, Dive. no alarm sounded. The dank margins, the rushy plashes and the dewy meadows, were silent before them. And Bernard's heart beat high with joy, when in the distance he first saw the armour of

944-945 Slothful negligence of the French.

912-954 the Cotentin Vanguard, glistening and flashing with the marching men's tread, as they met the horizontal rays of the rising sun. The heedless French, overpowered by debauch-for otherwise such a sottish sluggishness is inexplicable-were totally unprepared. Not a soul was stirring. Louis was droning in his bed, and Bernard let him enjoy his slumber: but when the Danes were fast approaching, he roused the King with malicious pleasure.-Sleep on, Sir King, if you choose to sleep, but seven hundred bright helmets are drawing nigh to attend you at your levée. A hasty gathering of the army ensued, their royal Commander, sorely dispirited. How ill had he begun the day! Sure he was that a battle would ensue, and he had a presentiment of impending calamity.

But the die was cast.-And Louis with fated imprudence advanced to the tryst, Harold on the spot near the ford, thoroughly prepared, eagerly expecting him. Great was the following on either part; Louis, accompanied by Herlouin, Harold's choicest troops surrounding him. The men of the Cotentin stood closest to the Dannerkonge as his body-guard, armed to the very teeth, their shields braced, their lances planted, hardly able to restrain their impatience for the quarrel, or for seizing any opportunity of making a quarrel with the enemy.

In nowise had the Monarchs abated their

944-945

the catas

ire, not a word spoken of peaceful import, no 942-954 semblance even of friendship: they faced each other as the fiercest foes. Harold re-iterated. his accusations against Louis the assassin; whilst Louis, on his part, expressed his determination that he never would quit Normandy until Richard should have surrendered all claim to Herlouin's imprudence the Duchy. Herlouin interfered, and most un- brings on seasonably. Amongst the men of the Cotentin trophe. there was a knight, who having served under Guillaume Longue-épée, was too well acquainted with the favourite. Embued with the popular enmity against the Count of Montreuil, he angrily reproached the ungrateful Herlouin as the cause of the calamity. Heavy as had been his offence against the dead, still greater was his trespass against the living; was not he now co-operating against Guillaume's son?

The words were heard. The slogan was raised. A furious tumult gave the response. Danes and Danish Normans spurred up, surrounding the wretch so universally odious to every loyal heart.-The Dane who enjoyed the good fortune of being driven closest, grasped his good Poitevin sword, and stabbed the victim between the ribs. Herlouin's bowels gushed out, and, death-stricken, down he dropped to the ground. Count Lambert, infuriated, rushed upon the Danes with his men, slashing away. A scuffling butchery ensued. Lambert avenged