48 WILLIAM OF EU.-HIS REVOLT. 996-1003 these vicinities, continued to encourage the mart, and Guibray-Falaise held a conspicuous station in the map of commercial France, even till the commencement of the present century. 1002Count William revolts against his brother the Duke. William im. prisoned at Rouen. § 23. Whether confirmed by Richard le-Bon, or granted by him, such an apanage as the Hiesmois was a boon well deserving Count William's gratitude; but his riches and power encreased his pride and haughtiness. Summoned repeatedly to render his services due for his fief, he as repeatedly made default. Woe betide him! Raoul, Count of Ivri, was at hand, and he advised the Duke to proceed against the rebel by military execution. Unrestrained either by tenderness of heart or connexion in blood, the sturdy Bear-hunter went forth and in proportion to the offence, and the quality of the offender, the chastisement was as rough as the punishment he had inflicted on the peasantry. William was cast into prison.-Rollo's tall Tower at Rouen detained his descendant in penal captivity; but the prisoner's partizans were numerous and annoying, and the disturbances continued flickering until put down by Raoul d'Ivri's resolution; and many were the adherents of William who escaped the gallows only by fleeing the country. Hard was his captivity, bolts and fetters bound him, till at length he escaped by swarming down a long rope, supplied, as it was reported, by a fair and compassionate hand. WILLIAM OF EU.-HIS REVOLT. 49 surrenders to A break-neck exploit, successfully accom- 996-1003 plished.--But William's streights recommenced William with his liberation. The Ivri hounds were always his brother. close at his heels, until, weary of his hunted life, he determined to implore mercy. He guessed where of all places his brother could best be addressed, most pleased and most placable; not in the Palace, not at Church,-but plaguing the beasts, as he William, was plagued, disporting amongst the merry green wood shades: and William sought him in the Forest of Verneuil. He cast himself at Richard's feet, telling the tale of his trials and sufferings. The somewhat frequent recurrence of such a dramatic situation—as in the case of Otho and Liudolph, -may perhaps lead to the supposition that the encounter was concerted, to save the honour of both parties. The com- He receives him, the county of Eu. William obtained an unconditional pardon; and more than pardon, grace and favour. Hiesmois was not restored,-but, in full pensation, his brother Richard granted as a guerdon, the lapsed County of Eu. old English authorities spell the name "Owe" or "Ewe;"-and, with Eu,-William received the hand of Thurkettle's lovely daughter Elce, Alice, or Lescelina, who, as the story runs, helped him in his evasion. The descendants of this marriage became prominent in AngloNorman history.-Amongst them we find Hugh, history the sagacious Bishop of Lisieux;-Robert, who VOL. III. E Descendants of Count William, their position in AngloNorman 50 WILLIAM OF EU. HIS REVOLT. 996-1003 commenced his career by affording important assistance to the appointed Conqueror of England, in the great Battle of Mortemer, and who was rewarded by those extensive domains in the County of Sussex, known as the Honour of Eu; and Robert's son William, (in France called William Busac,) enriched, like his father, by the spoils of the Anglo-Saxon, and, who came to a fearful end. Henceforward, we are constantly gaining nearer views of England. CHAPTER II. ROBERT KING OF FRANCE AND RICHARD LE-BON. 996-1024. CLOSE ALLIANCE BETWEEN NORMANDY AND FRANCE-ROYAL cordiale between and Duke 1. Ir is needful, in the first instance, to exhibit Robert of France, and Richard the Norman, in the respective relations of Suzerain and Vassal. Yet, not merely bound by formal Entente oaths and legal covenants, but cordial friends, King Robert actuated by community of interest and sincere Richard. feeling. Richard, without renouncing in any wise that connexion with the Scandinavian nationalities which his father had maintained, nay, diligently cultivating their amity and alliance, was thoroughly a Frenchman; and though he did not entertain any serious apprehension either of his avowed or secret enemies, he needed that countenance which the King of France could alone bestow. Moreover, King Robert well deserved esteem and affection, pet's anxiety to Hugh Capet's anxiety to accelerate Robert's Hugh CaCoronation within the year, was motived, being evidently dictated sagaciously by the con associate Royal dig Robert with him in the nity. 52 CORDIALITY BETWEEN HUGH CAPET AND ROBERT. 996-1024 Sciousness that, though his mental powers continued undiminished, his bodily strength was waning away. Robert's education and moral worth. Hugh leGrand's policy grounded upon cen Very carefully had Robert been trained; Gerbert, his instructor. From such an intriguing Master of arts a royal Pupil might have learnt over-much; but Robert improved himself by his Preceptor's lore, without imbibing any of the Philosopher's political perversions. So long as Hugh Capet lived, Robert offered a character rare in history: an Heir of whom the Parent had no real reason to be jealous; a son in joint seizin of the Palace with his paternal Sovereign, against whom no well grounded suspicion ever arose; a father and a child between whom no grudge was permanent. Robert ruled as his father's co-equal, sat by his father's side. The Royal charters ran in their conjoint names. Hugh directed the councils of the Realm; Robert obeyed his father's voice when that father had descended to the abode of silence; and the course of government adopted by the primal Capets, enabled their lineage, from father to son, to possess the throne for a period approximating to a Chiliad, nor has a male child of the loins of Robert le-Fort ever failed. § 2. Hugh Capet's policy was grounded upon unity. He did not proclaim any plan for tralization. the future, but provided for the future through the present. Having been raised to the throne by feuds and internal dissensions, he had felt their evil, and he guided himself by his father's |