1035-1054 Tesson fought for his life. Well had he deserved the vengeance due for treason. 1040-1047 The charge of the Barons. The Ducal troops charge Now ensued the shock of battle; and loud the rallying cry of the Harcourts, who were the most intent in the cause. Thury!" was their slogan, still heard in the local name of "Harcourt Thury."-Was it here that they chose the pleasant and comforting motto which they bear in the conquered land, "le bon temps viendra ?”—And they expected the good time in this present conflict. But the Scandinavian enthusiasm of the modern Normans, tempts them to hear in this war-cry the invocation of .Thor, the thunderbolt's wielder. Dauntless William headed the Normans, whilst the enemy. from the hostile ranks "Montjoie Saint Denis! resounded through the air, to which the rallying cry "Saint Sauveur," shouted by the Bessin troops, headed by Ranulph of the Briquessart, responded. He, ready to risk his purse, his treasure, nay, his very life, for the purpose of crushing the enemy. Fierce the fight; Henry King Henry's and his squadron faced the Cotentin men. The dangers. King of the French was dismounted, but through great exertion, his life was preserved; whilst the glory of the Cotentin was commemorated by the popular rhyme which, transmitted to subsequent generations, attested the monarch's discomfiture. De Costentin sortit la lance, BATTLE OF VAL DES DUNES. 217 Another war-horse brought up! - Henry 1035-1054 vaults into the saddle, and the conflict is re- 1040-1047 resisting des perately, are completely defeated. newed with increased desperation. Neel de Saint The rebels Sauveur maintained the fight until the rebels fled in dire confusion; and, so thick fell they, that the narrow, foaming mill-race of Bourbillon, which you look down upon as you hang over the shattered parapet of the one-arched bridge, was choked with bloody corpses. Hamo slain, and, borne away upon his shield, the vanquished rebel was entombed nigh the border of the stream. Discomfited, dispirited, shamed, the insurgents sought mercy. William was prudently gracious. Gifts and promises were followed by pardon. The forfeitures which the Barons had incurred were remitted; but Neel, who did not humble himself by "seeking grace at a graceless face," found a refuge in his castle of Brionne-surRille. Henry continued to aid the Norman Duke, Siege of despatching further reinforcements. But so sur-Rille. death of Grimoald. strong was Neel's position, or so imperfect and desultory the means of attack, that three years elapsed ere the fortress surrendered. Merciful were the terms extended to all the Captives, save one. Grimoald de Plessis was dropped into the Miserable dungeon-pit, manacled and fettered, the cankering iron eating into his ulcerated flesh; and, in this misery, protracted during three years, he expired : -the victor's spite pursued the traitor to the grave-for he was buried in his bonds; so that William's complete victory. 1035-1054 the sad tale of his fate might prove an awful warn1047-1055 ing. As for the other delinquents, William made a bridge for the flying enemy. Guido's renunciation of allegiance was accepted; and, retreating to Burgundy, he disappears ignominiously from history. This trial of strength settled all disputes between William and the recalcitrating Normans. All who had rebelled against the Bastard made full acknowledgment of his authority. Fealty and homage rendered,-hostages given to secure the plighted troth,-the adulterine castles razed to the ground,- a new field of exertion opens for the Conqueror. Impending collision between and Anjou. 19. Hitherto, though considerable jealousy Normandy had subsisted between the powerful lines of Anjou and Normandy, no hostile collision had yet ensued; but much rivalry, fair or unfair, had been mutually cherished between William and Geoffrey Martel, Count of Anjou, the famous son of Fulk Nerra, whose sobriquet (distinguishing him from his namesake Geoffrey Grisgonelle) so well designates his heavy hand. In both these Princes the mental talents and moral failings of their respective lineages were signally exemplified. One cause of offence arose from the conduct pursued by Geoffrey towards the House of Champagne and Blois, whose possessions were at this period divided between Stephen the son of Eudes, and his brother Thibaut. Fiercely were the passions of all parties roused. Martel warred steadily 1047-1055 and sturdily against both these princes. Stephen 1035-1054 was defeated and expelled. Nevertheless the balance of fortune was fairly counterpoised. Thibaut was captured and kept in duresse, until he surrendered Tours and Chinon--Chinon, afterwards so gay under Plantagenet ascendency. The contagious ill-will amongst these nobles excited much enmity against Martel in particular. Other causes were abundantly found in the clannish feuds which rise so prominently before us during this era of Norman history. Importance of the position. 8 20. Geoffrey Martel's conduct was tor- Alençon. tious; employing bribery and corruption, he obtained possession of Alençon, defended by the site and by the people's valour, and constituting with Domfront the basis of a line of operations, which could be equally employed, whether for the assault or the defence of the Duchy. From this position, Geoffrey, true to his epithet, incessantly made Normandy feel the full weight of his crushing hand, driving all before him, affronting the Norman pride. Merely to stand up against an enemy, is, under certain circumstances, considered an act of boldness; whilst William may be said to have advanced, continues his bearding his foes; another expression grounded upon the same idea. William campaigns. His truthfulness. A very powerful partisan, who occupies a Fitz-Osborne. special position, was William Fitz-Osborne, son of honest Osborne; he who sheltered William in his earliest childhood, and who had con 1035-1054 tinued so true and affectionate in the midst of the treacherous crowd. 1047-1055 William's spirit. 1048. William besieges Alençon. These men of might were destined to become Doomsday Barons, and to rule respectively in England, as Earls of Hereford and Shrewsbury. William continued to prosecute the campaign with insulting unconcern, savouring of affectation, hawk on fist, or following the hound, as though the country did not remain to be acquired, but had been already gained. Well nigh had the commencement cost him dear. His own people grudged the vailing of their caps to the Tanner's grandson. The disgust which turned their stomachs against the Bastard, was contagious amongst all the revolters, and all their party: the very horses shyed at the stench of the tanyard; and one individual, "the traitor of traitors," whose name is concealed by Guillaume de Jumièges, nearly succeeded in betraying our Duke to captivity or death. Indeed, there could not have been any other alternative for such a captive,-his prison doors could not have opened except for the grave. Such were the feelings actuating all Belesme's peculiar seigneurie. To fall under the domination of the Tanner's grandson,-the contemptible Bastard,-was intolerable. He was loathed and detested. William made straight towards |