942-954 tivity which had endangered, not merely his liberty, but his life. 915-946 Yvo de Belesme, third in order, received his endowment: and the assertion, that not one of those who had faithfully served under Guillaume Longue-épée was neglected, implies that the transaction should be viewed as being in the nature of a final establishment of territorial duties and obligations throughout the "Terra Normannorum." After making all these concessions, dictated equally by liberality, fair dealing, and Richard's sound policy, very extensive domains still redomains mained to Richard. These, however, being away to his subsequently alienated by his bounteous pro extensive afterwards granted children and connexions. Apprehen fusion, became the Counties, the Seignories, and the Baronies of his children, his halfbrother, and his other connexions. And, certain it is, that the Norman system of tenure became developed with greater coherence and regularity than in any other province of Capetian France. § 50. The alliances, connubial and political, concluded between Richard and Hugh-leGrand, created great sensation throughout the Carlovingian States on either side the Rhine. Much uneasiness was excited amongst all who were in anywise opposed to Richard. The new organization imparted to Normandy, glared porFrance tentously. No one could exactly predict how Normandy. this re-formation of the Norman State would sions excited in the Carlovingian States by the alliance between and 945-946 work; yet, it was a patent fact, that the mate- 942-954 rials composing the hitherto imperfectly aggregated "monarchy" were now recast into the shape of a robust and compact military power, available for all the designs which the ambitious lineage of Robert-le-Fort might form. Hughle-Grand could afford to observe his self-denying vow, in order that it might be broken by that sturdy boy now growing up to manhood, who would advance with Duke Richard by his side. Otho, during en against Normandy constituted a middle term between Pagan Danishry and Western Christianity: Louis and and, alarmed by the union of the interests their enof Normandy with Hugh-le-Grand's interests, mity the Carlovingian States were preparing to meet Richard. their enemies. Hugh-le-Grand's revelations of the dangers imminently threatening Normandy, and upon which he grounded his arguments as to the expediency of Richard's alliance with him, were incontrovertibly correct. Louis, unflinching in the determination of regaining his ancestorial rights, steadily contemplated another invasion: whilst Otho, distant as the Normans might be from his own territories, had sufficient reason to be rendered uneasy by their aggrandisement. And both Louis and Otho were kept in a state of constant irritation by the incitements of Normandy's evil genius, the Flemish Count Arnoul. Seventy-six years of age, Arnoul the son 945-946 Arnoul the evil Normandy. 942-954 of Baudouin-le-Chauve, demands to be honoured as a patriarch amongst all contemporary Chiefs, Princes, Rulers and Kings. From his earliest genius of youth, had Arnoul been taught that his primary moral duty was hatred towards the Danes. Baudouin-le-Chauve could tell him how Baudouin-bras-de-Fer, his grandfather, the Lord Marcher, had received fertile Flanders from old Charles-le-Chauve, the Emperor, upon condition of defending the Empire against the Pirates: and Arnoul was perseveringly consistent to the last. In Arnoul's own estimation, Guillaume Longueépée's slaughter was always a righteous deed. The antipathy he entertained towards Richard amounted, as the Normans said, to absolute devilry. It should seem that senescence had somewhat enfeebled Arnoul's firm mind; he was a brave man, a kind and sagacious ruler of his prosperous people, but he was unreasonably, nay, almost insanely, haunted by the terrific apprehensions of the vengeance he might sustain from Richard.-Richard would conquer Flanders, hang him, flay him, burn him alive. Arnoul excites Otho to Under these impressions, Richard's destrucLouis and tion was a matter of life or death to Arnoul. co-operate For the purpose of accomplishing this deliverdestruc- ance, he was now employed, astutely and diliRichard. gently, in negotiating a warlike coalition be for the tion of tween Louis and Otho, such as would enable them to crush the enemy. 945-946 It might be urged that there was a moral 942-954 obstacle to this alliance. Louis had just sworn perpetual peace to Richard at Saint Clair-surEpte: but oaths and pledges and promises did not oppose the slightest hinderance. There was however a real difficulty,- Louis had not the means, and unless Otho assisted strenuously, the war could not be continued with any reasonable prospect of success. § 51. Would Otho exert himself?-Gerberga, when she recently solicited Otho to help her persecuted husband, might have anticipated that he would make some active exertions on behalf of a brother Monarch: indeed, Otho for his own sake Otho could not fail to sym- neglectful pathize, but no satisfactory result had ensued. This slackness can, however, be sufficiently explained. Heavy Heavy was the blow which had fallen upon Otho. The pious, the wise, the apparently of Louis. tender Editha, had been borne to her tomb in Death of All Queen Liudolph, son, leaving an the only son, mother whom Otho He forthwith, cessor. the Dom of Magdeburg, leaving an only appoints his suc 946-947 942-954 existed who might compete with Liudolph and contest his rights; but Otho had painful reasons to recollect the unnatural conflict which raged erewhile between himself and his younger brother, Henry the Porphyrogenitus. Henry was a powerful Prince, in full vigour, and according to all human probability would be Otho's survivor. Might not the Saxon King therefore reasonably fear, lest Henry the Duke of Bavaria, son of the crowned King and crowned Queen, would seize the kingdom of which he had been deprived: inasmuch as Otho, his elder though usurping brother, not having a lawful title himself, could transmit none to his heirs. Therefore these precautions were adopted by the anxious father for the purpose of affording every constitutional guarantee which might ensure the dear Liudolph's accession, when he, the parent, should be removed. between Otho and Louis concerning Another co-operating cause probably tended to enfeeble Otho's exertions on behalf of Louis, -the edginess subsisting between both parties by reason of the pretensions which they respecLorraine. tively asserted to Lorraine. All the accumulated traditions of discord, and bloodshed, and hatred concerning this debatable land, operated in fomenting their mutual ill-will. During the first flush of transient success, Louis had apparently made no inconsiderable progress in regaining the object of contention. He prided |