1024-1035 impression, and therefore comparatively feeble. Monarchy lives upon recollections, and, until they have accrued by effluxion of time, her path is staggering-the irrevocable past is the gift of God's Eternal Providence; nor can any human contrivance compensate for the irrevocable. Canon of descent as in the French Monarchy. Constitutional principles were as yet unyet uncertain matured in the Capetian Monarchy. The exclusion of females, and of all heirs claiming through a female, was the only French canon of descent which we can consider entirely free from cavil. Primogeniture or seniority was not indefeasible; the will of the reigning Sovereign determined whether, as amongst the sons, an elder or a younger should be his successor. 1026 -1037 Dissensions in France by succession. Exerting, therefore, his prerogative of selecreason of the tion, King Robert had caused his son Hugh, who does not appear to have been the eldest, though there is some obscurity on this point, to be accepted as King, and crowned. The confusion of early Capetian history comes out in strong contrast with the comparative lucidity of the Carlovingian era. Hugh's disposition was excellent; but cankered Constance crossed him: and, provoked by his mother's harshness, he revolted against Henry an authority. He died prematurely; and Henry, his Mother. his brother's puisné, was by the father's appointment also crowned as the associate King. But Constance hated Henry, and laboured incessantly that Robert of Burgundy, the Cadet next suc against the wishes of in order, should be preferred. Henry inherited 1024-1035 his amiable father's character, Robert took after his mother; Constance, therefore, insisted that Henry was a poor creature, incompetent to exercise the royal functions. His spirited brother was the one entitled to the preference. Realm 1026-1027. Constance and her party obtain much success. pelled to fly the country Robert's Upon King Robert's demise, the devolved upon Henry, who had been already installed. Forthwith, a most bitter civil war arose; and a powerful faction amongst the baronage, including Eudes le-Champenois, and Fulk of Anjou, sided with the Queen. Thus supported, the Virago's party prospered. The principal Henry comPlaces in the very heart of the kingdom, com- craves prising the Duchy of France Proper, the antient support. Capetian patrimony-Senlis and Sens-Sens then so strong in her Roman walls,-alas! most recently eradicated by modern vandalism-much contested Melun, Dammartin, Poissi, honoured Couci, and Puiseaux, opened their gates to Constance, and closed them in the face of the unfortunate Henry, who fled the country; and, on the eve of the joyful Paschal feast,-Pascha florida-Pâques fleurie,- so unfortunately disguised amongst us by its Heathen name, he presented himself as a suppliant before Duke Robert at Fécamp: small and mean was his Royal train-Duodecim clientuli-Twelve Vavasours. Henri fu moult epouvanté 1024-1035 Duke Robert supports the King A Robert vint en Normandie Un jour devant Pasches fleurie, Mournfully, by this transaction, was France humiliated before Normandy. The circumstances attending the receipt of the parage-homage were sufficiently mortifying. Grievous must have been the vexation on those occasions, when the King of France was compelled, for the purpose of receiving the jealous submission due to the successor of Charlemagne, from the successor of Rollo, to go forth, and meet his inferior, half way down the border but harder that he should now, as a suppliant, be seen a suitor of the Norman Duke, beseeching the great Vassal by his faith and fealty, to grant protection against his own mother and his own brother. Duke Robert enhaunced his own conseeffectually. quence, by receiving the illustrious petitioner with great respect and honour; and he worked effectually for his Suzerain's restoration. In the first place, Eudes le-Champenois had to be brought over or bought over. Eudes knew his own price, and stipulated that one moiety of splendid Sens, the key of Champagne on the royal frontier, should be surrendered to him. Heartily did Duke Robert support King Henry's rightful cause against his unnatural mother, pouring in troops, burning, destroying, no mercy shewn, no quarter granted to the insurgents; they were dealt with, not as enemies, but as 1024-1035 rebels. Well, too well, are we taught by the old thrummed proverbs and popular saws,—the outspeakings equally of human depravity and of human sagacity,-that success constitutes the sole distinction between patriotism and rebellion. "Treason doth never prosper.-What is the reason? That when it prospers, none dare call it treason." traitor. Under our chivalrous Edward, Scotland's Wallace, the Champion was vituperated as an infamous thief. -Ille famosus Latro, Willielmus Wayleys, quoth our true born Englishman. Surely, it was a gaudy day for the burly London Citizens, when, crowding to enjoy the delicious spectacle, they beheld the Scottish Hero dragged on a hurdle through their filthy flinty streets, hanged and cut down, all quick and breathing, his writhing bowels plucked out from the quivering carcass by the Executioner, whose infernal skill prolongs all the powers of action, intellect, and sensation, during a paroxysm of inconceivable agony; and then-that ghastly head and those mangled limbs, rotting upon the Gate-towers! Was there ever any consistent justice in the sentiments entertained against a Rebel?-How many a swarthy Zemindar, whose parched skeleton, picked clean by kites and vultures, and now swinging from the gallows, may, in the eyes of posterity, earn an historic reputation proud as that enjoyed by William Tell and the VOL. III M 1024-1035 Confederates of Grutli.-Nay, were the Novelist of Certaldo living amongst us to publish a sixteenth edition of his once popular essay, De Claris Mulieribus, would not the devoted Rannee of Jansee rank with Boadicea ? 1031-1033 Duke Robert continues his exertions on behalf of Henry. Robert's campaign on behalf of royalty was judiciously conducted: he placed large detachments in all the strongholds and frontier positions. Mauger, Count of Corbeil, fierce and crafty, acted as his nephew's Lieutenant, and displayed an energy corresponding with the confidence he had earned. Fully does King Henry appear selfvindicated from the stigma of inertness, the failing assigned by his vixen Mother as justifying her schemes for aggrandizing her darling at the expence of her warling. Eudes le-Champenois, under the stress of the Norman power, was compelled to restore the domains he had usurped. Constance's schemes being no longer favoured by fortune, public opinion ceased to favour her. Fulk of Anjou objurgated the dowager Queen, rebuking her harshness towards her children; she fell ill and died, and was buried at Saint Denis, beside her husband. 8 25. The services rendered by Robert to King Henry, were so valuable, that he might have made heavy demands upon his Sovereign's gratitude, but Henry anticipated any such request. · Interposed between Normandy, as ceded to Rollo, and the Regnum Francorum, was a portion |