946-947 about ten or twelve, which, floating in the pool, 942-954 were moored, as it should seem, on the SaintGermain bank. Some small boats also remained. But the Duke made proclamation, forbidding the hiring of them out to strangers under a heavy penalty. These measures were obviously adopted for the purpose of impeding the allies in their movements; whether they designed to cross the river or to use the water-way, by which they might convey either troops or stores towards Rouen. of Norman This portion of our history is peculiarly hard Difficulties attending to construe. The French and their Chroniclers this portion were ashamed of the campaign's result. Their history. fortunes are indicated in a single phrase; and the Germans entirely ignore, or rather were ignorant of the French proceedings, whilst the Norman authorities overwhelm us by rhetorical and poetical exuberance. It appears, however, from subsequent transactions, that Hugh-leGrand despatched an effective body of troops to Normandy and then, having quartered a strong garrison in Paris, he retired southward, probably to Dourdon on the Orge, an antient domainial Hugh repalace appertaining to his family. But we have Orleans, no other certain intelligence concerning the Duke the event previously to our meeting him again at Orleans, campaign. where he resided till the conclusion of the war. He abandoned his Duchy to the inroads of the enemy, but, at the same time, unques treats to awaiting of the 946-947 942-954 tionably relying that Paris would prevent any permanent conquest.-Great caution and wariness had succeeded to his bravadoes. No more talk of bolting seven Saxons at a gulp;—and his ill-wishers perhaps began to boast, on their parts, that his courage failed him. Fully assured, however, may we be, that cowardice could not be the motive which induced Hugh-le-Grand thus to expose his country to disgrace and danger, but that he had calculated the cost. Therefore, we have reason to conjecture, that at this important crisis he considered the present protection of the young Richard the main object, and, for the future, trusted to the fortuities of war.-The allies might be defeated by the Normans, or some disagreement lead to the dissolution of the confederacy. The Ger The German forces were reckoned at thirty man army thousand men when they came up before Paris. comes up Paris. before Such calculations can usually be accepted only as affording a very rough estimate of numbers. But Otho's military discipline was so perfect, and his troops so scientifically marshalled, that the enumeration was probably fairly correct. By this time the light straw hats had been exchanged for bright steel: the tall tough-grained ash-treen lances of the Germans were the most formidable weapons of the kind which the Normans had ever encountered, and the Germans-the warriors who shone in the steel 946-947 helmets and brandished the tremendous lances 942-954 -in the highest spirits, yearning for adventure. Otho was quite cast into the shade by the Edeling. We verily believe that he liked to be so. This magniloquent young Champion, who ought to have figured in an "Helden-buch,”—and may be, does, under some romantic name—was the very pink of the army, galloping about on his proud Castilian steed, flourishing his "Flamberg," and Chivalry exhilarating his companions and followers by recounting the feats of arms he had performed against the outer barbarians. No one could delight in the Edeling's glory so much as his uncle. Otho loved the Edeling as a son. of the Edeling. and French The Germans were supported by the Flemish Flemish battalions under Arnoul, stout men and heavy troops. horses, the doughty combatants of Hainault and Hasbey, and Flanders, and Tournay, well provided with all needful equipments and useful appliances, beasts of draught and beasts of burden, wains and waggons, ample teams and lengthened trains. Lastly came up Louis with the French forces, lithe and blithe, active and spirited. But the Eagle was lost. You must seek the Imperial bird perched upon Charlemagne's Pfaltz-now Otho's-at Aix-la-Chapelle. No pontoons having been prepared by the allies, the precautions taken by Hugh stopped the progress of the invaders when they reached 946-947 which the troops are enabled to cross the Seine. 942-954 the Seine. Ten young French knights, however, concocted a scheme for effecting the transit. Device by By the side of the river there was a famous Seigneurial corn-mill, which supplied the city It should seem that, disguised as with meal. pilgrims, the merry and active adventurers presented themselves to the dusty master of the concern, and who was also the manager of the Duke's fisheries, a boon companion, craving a lodging till the ensuing morning. They plied him with wine, offered money, and he, enchanted by their good looks and their liberality, unlocked a boat, and thus gave them the means of crossing the water. County of Paris the enemy. They accomplished their object, not much minding the sacrifice of a small boy, whom they drowned, lest he should betray them; and the old miller, the poor child's grandfather, had to swim for his life. Seventy-two barges or keels were seized by these adroit young warriors. They made nine successive trips to the opposite bank, and at each return brought over eight vessels; by which means, during that very same night, a large proportion of the German army landed on the left-hand shore. The County of Paris, Hugh's peculiar posravaged by session, was thus wholly surrendered to the enemy, who, greedy and pitiless, committed frightful ravages. Hugh's abbey of St Denis had been abandoned to the protection of the Patron saint. Otho entered the precinct, the 942-954 Manse being in fact Hugh-le-Grand's Palace, 46-947 and Louis joined him there. Very grateful was Louis to Otho for the punishment he had cooperated in inflicting upon his arch-enemy the Duke. The two Monarchs exulted in their successes. They had damaged Hugh to the extent, as they estimated, of ten thousand marks in mere plunder. Now would be the time to strike a decisive blow by seizing his Capital. And Otho, still provoked by the contumely he had received from his brother-in-law during their discreditable flyting, was the most desirous to inflict this chastisement upon him, so well earned by his bitter tongue. Otho ex Arnoul to in the en § 55. Whether successful or unsuccessful, such a diversion would ill have suited Arnoul's schemes, who, working to the utmost of his might and main, continued egging Otho's am- cited by bition, with the intent of stimulating him to persevere subvert the Norman power. He argued that to terprise. attempt the siege of Paris, would merely waste Otho's strength.-Paris did not care a whit for all that Otho could do or bring. The lofty walls, the steady garrison, defied him; the needful reinforcements could not be easily obtained from distant Germany. But Rouen would be the easiest of conquests. The Normans were already self-subdued, scared out of their wits by the apprehension that their great City would be |