912-927 had demanded from Herbert that Charles should sustain perpetual captivity. 923-924 Herbert however really required no incitement. The plot was deliberately matured, and the artifice which Herbert meditated, might be extenuated to his conscience, by the recollection of the fraud practised upon his progenitor the murdered Bernard. Twelve were the confederates, Herbert the chiefest, who had pledged themselves to accomplish the King's destruction. Charles im- Herbert was merely seeking to get him into his prisoned by Herbert. grip for the purpose of playing him off against King Raoul. Oaths were given, and oaths were taken. Charles advanced to Saint-Quentin on the Somme: he was there respectfully received by the Count, and carefully and hospitably entertained; but the honourable arrest soon assumed the aspect of irretrievable captivity. The royal prisoner was removed to Château-Thierry, and then transferred to Perronne, which ultimately became his dungeon and place of sepulture.-And now for the first time Ogiva appears before us with her child, the little Louis, despairing of her Husband's rescue, fearing even for the life of the boy. How she escaped is not exactly known; yet certainly she did not accomplish her evasion otherwise than with great difficulty. Louis himOgiva and self relates the homely device adopted for his safety, he was concealed in a truss of forage. England. She reached the coast, and fled to England: the the child Louis es cape to 922 tranquillity Normandy. glorious Athelstan received his luckless sister 912-927 kindly and royally;-Ogiva and Louis are 'outremer,' rescued from the enemy, far beyond the sea. § 18. During the period intervening between the pacification of Clair-sur-Epte and the fatal crisis when Charles-le-Simple's calamities became so urgent, whoever resorted to the Norman Court Internal found old Rollo growing older and older: mostly enjoyed by employing himself rightly and wisely in works of peace. Norman traditions affectionately exhibit the antient warrior administering the law, improving his Capital, draining and embanking, encouraging the building of churches, and surveying the rising walls of palace and castle: or disporting himself in the chase, whether in the game-abounding "Foresta de Leonibus"-that favourite and remarkable hunting ground,-or in the woods surrounding the fabled Roumare, or in the forest-park of Quevilly, between the Roumare and Rouen. Tall in stature, gentle in manner, Guillaume, Rollo's only son, was encreasing in general favour. Amongst the mournful hope-disappointing promises of youth, the blossoms blooming only for the blight, Guillaume displayed much early piety, and a childish inclination towards retirement and solitude; but the advantages of birth and station tempted him to indulgence, and designated him for power. Rollo was about fourscore; and there were many amongst the chieftains VOL. II. E 922 912-927 who began to deliberate whether it would not be expedient that the Octogenarian should retire from the functions of government, and resign the authority to his son;-but Rollo had no such mind. The deposition of his father-in-law, King Charles, disturbed his tranquillity, and excited the very natural desire of profiting by the convulsions which France sustained: he would fain enlarge his dominions before he should die, and render Normandy tight and round. premacy in Armo rica. Rollo's su- It is a moot point among topographical arestablished chæologists, whether Rollo had or had not yet gained the Lieuvin or Lisieux territory. The young Alain, Matheudoi's son, having returned to Armorica, was accepted as Count of Vannes, whilst Juhel-Berenger, the son of Judicail, appears enjoying the County of Rennes. These Chieftains, though attached to the French, a people more congenial to them than the rougher Northmen, fully acknowledged Rollo's supremacy, recognizing Rollo as their common sovereign; and, by such submission, the two great Breton Counties were in a manner united to Normandy. Nevertheless the authority of Rollo was fluctuating;and though many districts yielded obedience, his pretensions and possessions were uncertain beyond the Dive. 923 Renewal of The Danish war now burst out afresh with the Danish all the pristine Vikingar fury. From Loire to ravages. Seine, all France was in confusion: Regnald tudes of war. came up, and Rollo's Rouen troops combined 912-927 with him the banks of the Oise were no longer defended, the Danes occupied the Vermandois, 922-923 which they plagued as in days of old. Obstinate conflicts ensued, fought point to point, blade to blade. Count Hubert beat the invaders, and released a thousand prisoners. The Amiennois Vicissiwas in fire and flame. Aldelelm Count of Arras the Danish gave the Danes battle and defeated them, and they immediately started up in more strength than before. The Beauvoisin was burning, further help was needed: King Raoul himself advanced in all haste from Burgundy, and affairs assumed a new aspect. The Franks now determined to act upon the offensive.-Whatever treaties might have been concluded with the Danes, the national conscience of the French ignored these solemn compacts: the Danish occupation was not legitimated by opinion or sentiment.-Baptism did not entitle a Dane to be dealt with as a fellowChristian. Settled in the land, the Danes were still abominated as the outlawed freebooters. The political cordiality originally grounded upon the personal friendship between Charles and Gisella's consort was dissolved, and the Franks determined to resume the territories, which, when under the terror of Rollo, the "Dux Piratarum," they had urged their sovereign to cede. King Raoul, and Duke Hugh, and Count Herbert, with Archbishop Seulph, summoned and 912-927 united all their forces. Normandy, well governed, tranquil, and flourishing, was as tempting to the Christian Franks as France had been to the 923 The Franks Epte and invade Normandy. cross the Pagan Danes. Much therefore was to be gained -Raoul and the Frankish chieftains crossed the Epte, and overspread the "Terra Normannorum,' which they wasted with fire and sword. 923 The Franks sue for But they won no profit by waging this warfare against the irrepressible Northmen. The conjoined armies of Rollo and fierce Regnald, the latter long since set in movement at the bidding of Charles, crossed the Oise, ranging and foraging. Raoul prepared for the coronation of bold Queen Emma; but when the inauguration was celebrated at Rheims, the Frankish squadrons were stationed all around the confines, lest these most unwelcome visitors should disturb the solemn ceremony. The French earnestly solicited peace, and Rollo consented upon the usual basis, the Frank to pay and the Dane to receive. Rollo demanded land and money, a large addia further tional expansion of the "Terra Normannorum" territory. beyond the Seine, and a copious Danegelt. The first proposition was reserved for future discussion, the second immediately conceded: hostages were required to secure a due performance of the conditions. None but individuals of the highest rank would be accepted by the Danes. Eudes, afterwards Count of Amiens, son of Herbert of Vermandois, being therefore delivered peace. Rollo demands cession of |