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destitution of Charles.

been divided between the brothers, was decided 959-987 by a comparatively recent precedent-the conjoint reigns of Louis and Carloman. Probably, on account of extreme youth, no reservation was Extreme made in favour of the infant Charles, when Lothaire became King. If not admitted to the share of the Kingdom, then an apanage was his right. This claim may have been conceded theoretically; but small good could be got by such an acknowledgment, there were no assets. Why should not Charles have received an adequate provision as the Lay-incumbent of some wellendowed monastery ?-Alas there were now none in the King's gift. -The Abbacomes, Hugh Capet occupied them all.

unfairly

Throughout the whole of these most instructive but deplorable annals, we have seen, generation after generation-how the worm at the root was working the decay and dissolution of Charlemagne's doomed Empire.-Much censure Charles has been passed upon the young Prince by his ill- depreciated. wishers whilst living, and these exaggerations have been subsequently heightened by the contempt of the unfortunate, natural to all mankind. All the Chroniclers after the accession of the Capets, conjoin in defaming Charles. It was then of no consequence, he was quiet in his grave. In Capetian times he was recollected only as a rebel against authority, unlegitimated by success;unpopularity is a crime in popular history. He is represented as rude, boorish, disregarding the needful courtesies of society. The only example

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959-987 adduced of his roughness, though great stress is laid upon it, does not possess much relevancy. Possibly, however, there may have been some foundation for the charge. Adversity is rarely so profitable a teacher as represented in our great Dramatist's fallacious verse; rather the contrary. Misfortune often hardens the heart more than prosperity.-When the cold blast falls upon the youthful branch, the fruit is usually soured.

Charles faithful to Lothaire

until provoked by Emma.

In after life, Charles could appeal to the fidelity with which he had served Lothaire, when his aid was required; and if Lothaire failed, or perhaps was forced by want of means to fail, in rendering justice to his younger brother, yet he never shewed any ill-will against him.

Not so, malapert Emma. She fully manifested the disgust which the poor relation gave her. Humiliated, even stinted in food, Charles was drenched with the bitterness of dependence and poverty. Life became a burden to him, and truly did the future Pretender to a lawful inheritance, -Pretender because unlucky,-feel the crushing weight of another's roof, giving grudging shelter. Emma's insolence became intolerable. Charles Palace and delivered himself from his persecutrix by break

Charles

quits the

seeks his fortune.

ing away and seeking his fortune. Charles's history has descended to us only in fragments, but, though unable to track him distinctly in his career, we can sufficiently appreciate his courage, activity, versatility, and adventurous spirit.

He gained influence. Some may have joined

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him from sympathy; others impelled by enmity 959-987 against the Carlovingians, vassals of Hugh Capet for example: Eudes also, the son of Herbert of Vermandois. The times were promising to the Adventurer. Germany and Italy much disturbed. An insurrection broke out in Lorraine. Renier, the expelled Count of Hainault, assisted by his brother Lambert, endeavoured to recover Mons, otherwise Bergen. Charles seized the opportunity. No apanage had been reserved for Charles. He determined to win one.

Lorraine was an antient Carlovingian inheritance. Lothaire had lost the "Regnum Lotharii," and Charles planned to acquire a compensation in that Realm, so influential from its position between Germany and France. After various evolutions, he became the staunch adherent of the Emperor. He now stood in his proper place. Charles and Theophania were united by their common antipathy against Emma. Good haters keep together more steadily than fond lovers. To earn Theophania's favour, was to command Otho's; and Charles was encouraged by a brief dawn of prosperity.

one Lorraine

the

otho, as a

granted to Charles by

Cutting our way through a most obscure, perplexed, and litigious passage, we will arrive at the results. Otho distinguished the Cousin by an act the most offensive to other. He granted to Charles the "Duchy of Empire. Lorraine." The nature and extent of this same grant has been the subject of elaborate critical

VOL. II.

3 H

fief of the

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959-987 enquiry; but, for our purposes, it is sufficient to know, that Charles is accepted by all the historical disputants as first amongst the hereditary Dukes of the "Basse-Lorraine;" and, having received investiture, he became a Vassal of the Emperor.

977Bishop

Asceline

Emma

accused of adultery

by common report.

Charles had already encreased his authority by matrimony, for he obtained the hand of Bona, who, (here again turning away from a thorny field of genealogical controversy,) we believe to have been the daughter of Godfrey the elder, Count of the Ardennes, and sister of the second Godfrey, the latter appointed by Otho as Duke, or rather Governor, of Brabant. Three children were born to Charles, of this, his first marriage. A second union was contracted with the affectionate Adela, the daughter of the Vermandois Count Herbert, who piously shared in, and comforted her husband's misfortunes.

§ 65. And now, we are suddenly startled by and Queen the fearful though dim apparition of Emma and Asceline shrouded in guilt. Whether really culpable or not, no human being will ever be able to tell. A popular excitement arose, founded either upon foul depravity or fouler calumny, such, as in France, has so repeatedly sounded the tocsin of civil war and revolution. universally believed that Asceline and Emma had committed adultery. None but the Husband could touch the Queen. The Husband moved not. No Accuser stood forward.-No specific

It was

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charge had been made.-The reports, neverthe- 959–987 less, were spread loudly and universally: and the Bishops of the Province felt it their duty that so grave an imputation against a Prelate, should become the subject of judicial investigation.

convened to enquire into

tion.

Archbishop Adalbero convened a Provincial Synod Synod, to be held in the Abbey Church of Sainte the accusaMacre, at Fismes. Many important affairs having been discussed,-" et postquam Metropolitanus" and then! What then? We know not-we never shall know: Richerius, roused from his long silence, commences the record, but, in the midst of the paragraph, he cuts the parchment away.

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§ 66. The proposition that affection descends from the elder to the younger,-from parent to offspring is fairly certain. The ascent, from offspring to parent,-more doubtful.-Between kindred on the same level, that is to say, between brothers and sisters, reasonably probable, though not to be predicted confidently,-between collaterals in the next remove,-a mere chance— what you please.

Otho the Uncle entertained much regard for Lothaire. Otho fitz-Otho and Lothaire, the Cousins, envied and hated each other. Lothaire was enraged by the Emperor's assumption of the superiority over Lorraine: and, if Lothaire did not include Theophania in his enmity, he assuredly neglected the consideration due to her sex and dignity. Otho had openly called and proclaimed a

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