CHAPTER IV. WILLIAM THE BASTARD, FROM HIS ACCESSION TO THE 1035-1054. 1054-1066. 1. TOILING, moyling, we at length at- 1035-1054 tain the era, equally interesting and perplexing, so long looming in our horizon; that era when the adverse fortunes of Normandy and of England are about to conjoin. Albion's white cliffs rise before us, whilst we are crossing the narrow sea. The roll of Time unfolding, we become dimly enabled to discern how all events, though, to us successive, are contemporaneous in the foredoomed chain of Causation; decreed when Time was not, and vanishing in Eternity. Past, Present, Future, inscrutable and inseparable. victories marking William's William's reign, as Duke of Normandy, The three commencing about the tenth year of his age, three eras of assumes the form of a three-act drama, each act Ducal reign. concentrated upon a battle. When we record the history of our fallen race, we dip our pen in gore; and the three verdant fields of Val des VOL. III. 0 192 ALAIN, COUNT OF BRITTANY. 1035-1054 Dunes, Mortemer, and Hastings, respectively define the three decisive epochs of the Ducal domination; that domination predestined to create the British Empire. In the annals of the Human race, no one crisis more influential than William's Conquest; for it was the combination of the Norman's astuteness and the Englishman's sturdiness, whereby their descendants have been enabled to girdle the terraqueous globe; diffusing the good and the evil, the blessing and the bane, each and all alike the results of civilization. William's guardian his father. ? 2. Wild, rash, thoughtless, as Duke Robert, appointed by when determining on his pilgrimage, appears to us, he had previously taken one important practical step, manifesting much sagacious forethought and pertinent wisdom; namely, the appointment of Alain, Count of Brittany, Hawisa's son, and, consequently William's near kinsman, -to exercise the powers of government in Normandy during the father's absence and the young Duke's minority. The selection was judicious. Alain's affinity might inspire him with some small share of natural affection. Next of kin by blood, yet not legally entitled to claim the succession, and, therefore, somewhat less tempted to rivalry, he commenced his Regency wisely and energetically; and, so long as he lived, he restrained the malicious hostility of young William's swarming enemies. NORMANDY DURING THE INTERREGNUM. 193 Messenger after messenger dropping in from Palestine, severally and successively repeating and confirming the mournful intelligence, how Robert's strength was failing, much in body, more in mind, had virtually anticipated the last fatal tidings. The Tocsin tolling; the news spread amongst the Lieges, rapidly as though the Fiery Cross was circling round the land; and the Ducal dominions forthwith, lapsed into direful anarchy. § 3. According to the principles of mediæval jurisprudence, the French forensic axiom, le mort saisit le vif, was not admitted simply: nor did the Ancestor's demise, a technical expression, than which, none more significant amongst the pregnant "Termes de la Ley," forthwith vest the inchoate title in the Heir. The right required realization. . 1035-1054 reign the fountain of justice. The Sovereign was the Fountain of Justice; The Sovetherefore the stream ceased to flow when the well-spring was covered by the tomb. The judicial Bench vacant; all Tribunals closed. Such was the antient doctrine-a doctrine still recognized in Anglo-Norman England. Consequently, according to our constitutional law, all Commissions and other delegations of power emanating from the departed Ruler, become null and void upon his death. But, in the present day, we avoid the inconvenience which would result from such a collapse of national vitality, partly by Statute, and partly by a Royal Declaration authorizing the various Functionaries 1035-1054 Consequences of Robert's negligent government. 194 DISTURBANCES OF NORMANDY. so circumstanced, to continue in the exercise of their offices until otherwise provided. This procedure was not adopted during the period with which we are now concerned; therefore, the land was lawless, until the "King's Peace" (that most significant designation) was proclaimed. The sword of Themis dropped from her unnerved hand. The Norman Duke was the sole Judge to whom the Baronage were amenable. From him, all superior criminal justice emanated. And, therefore, until the recognition of the Sovereign, an interregnum ensued. Such was the condition of Normandy at the juncture we are now describing. Each man acted as seemed right in his own eyes Faust-recht, or Fist law, according to the emphatic term which the Germans employ, superseded all other remedies against wrong. Riot and robbery prevailed throughout the land, with increased exacerbation.Thorns strewed the path prepared for the glorious Conqueror; his destiny, a life of agony, a death of sorrow. During the latter declining years of Robert's slothful government, the due enforcement of the laws had been neglected. The erection of a Castle, unless with Ducal licence, was illegal. Such a Castle was termed "adulterine"-an appropriate form of speech, designating the structure's vitiated origin. Numerous were these strongholds, each a centre of rebellious violence, (Raubschlosser, "Robber's nests," as they are CLAIMANTS OF THE DUCHY. 195 termed by an expressive German idiom,) which 1035-1054 had arisen during Robert's reign,—tokens of his culpable indifference, whose picturesque ruins now adorn the landscape, particularly in the Avranchin, the Bessin, and the stern Cotentin, where at this very moment, whilst I am writing, the Titanic Cherbourg appals our shores,-these three Baillages, or Viscounties, being the districts which contributed the largest contingent to the Conqueror's army; and within whose boundaries, one hundred and thirty-two of these edifices are still subsisting, in greater or lesser stages of decay. of marriage. Every child of Rollo's race, from Guillaume Ethnic form Longue-épée downwards, had been born out of lawful matrimony, but all had become subsequently legitimated by a mantle marriage, or some other traditional mode of plighting faith, pledging, or wedding; some archaic rite or ceremony accepted, from time beyond memory, as imparting a legal sanction to these unblessed nuptials; being in fact analogous to the law as now subsisting beyond the Tweed. Each mother in her turn, honoured or dishonoured by the Duke's affection or protection, appears primarily in the character of a concubine; whilst the progeny of each favourite was treated as lawful, and the child's disgrace condoned. One exception only can be found in the Norman annals-the case of the Bastard par excellence.-The malediction impre- The curse of cated by ferocious Talvas is ever ringing in our Talvas. |