unrebuked by conscience;—and a mistake which 996-1024 the wisest might commit, marred the comfort of his life and damaged his authority as a King. "bad-neigh bours" of Tricheur. § 7. The three original bad-neighbours of The old Normandy had all been gathered to their account. Normandy. First, as to Thibaut le-Tricheur. His flight Thibaut lefrom Hermondeville was his last exploit.Chartres, flaming, gave him his quietus, and, tamed by age, he abode peacefully at home during the remainder of his days. But, whether in amity or in enmity, in peace or in war, none of the great Feudatories were, at this juncture, so influential in the affairs of Normandy and France as Thibaut le-Tricheur's descendants. They continued waxing in power and influence, and their territories so opened upon the frontiers of the Duke and the demesne provinces of the King as to afford always the temptation and often the opportunity, of giving annoyance. We know not when Thibaut's long life ended, for he passed away so gently that the time of his death can only be conjectured. This is one of the few instances in which the Art de verifier les dates does not fully satisfy the promise held out by the title page. But no negligence can be imputed to the most industrious compilers of this inestimable work.-They had not the wherewithal to give the information. The "Pays Chartrain," though rejoicing in famous Fulbert, is almost wholly destitute of Chronicles. Thibaut le-Tricheur's eldest son by Liutgarda, 978-995 Eudes of Blois and Chartres suc ceeds to Blois, &c. 996-1024 Eudes or Odo, first of the name, but second Count of Blois, succeeded to his father. Our knowledge concerning him politically and personally is scanty, considering his importance. He became very rich, and inherited, usurped, or conquered the six Counties of Blois, Chartres, Beauvais, Tours, Meaux and Provins,-Provins where in these our western climes, the Queen of flowers first blushed with oriental splendour. Eudes assumes the style of "Comes Ditissimus." 995 Death of Comes Di- Singularly candid in owning to the pride of wealth, Eudes the First assumed in his charters the style of Comes Ditissimus. His wife, Bertha, -daughter of Conrad the Pacific, King of Arles or Provence, and great grand-child of Henry the Fowler, first emperor of the Saxon line, whom Robert claimed also as a common ancestor,—was rendered illustrious by her exalted lineage, and equally, it is said, by her virtues. Great friendship subsisted between Robert and Eudes, the latter being distinguished as Count of the Palace. Robert, then married to a Princess Rosella, became sponsor at the font to one of Bertha's children. He and Bertha-who possibly then first became acquainted with each other-might also call themselves cousins, but cousins related to each other in the fourth degree; a consanguinity so diluted, that it usually escapes recollection, except when our memory is refreshed by our kinsman's wealth or station. Return we now to the Comes Ditissimus.— Much will always want more. The Ditissimus MARRIAGE OF ROBERT AND BERTHA. 65 engaged in war with Fulke Nerra the Count of 996-1024 Anjou; but, in the midst of his warlike operations, the narrative is stayed by the notice of his death, which ensued at venerable Marmoutier. He left two sons, Thibaut, second of the name in Chartres and third in Blois; and Eudes le-Cham- 995-1019. penois, who, his elder brother dying without count of issue, succeeded to all their father's dominions, Blois, &c. (that is to say his brother's share and his own,) with the addition of Champagne and Brie. Eudes le Champenois, Champagne, 996 King Robert marries Bertha, the widow of Ditissimus. As for Bertha, the widow of the Comes Ditissimus, she did not mourn long in her weeds,say a quarter of a year,—when she yielded to the the Comes wooing of her late husband's friend, King Robert; -Robert, who now in consequence of Queen Rosella's death, could present himself as a childless widower. Much loftier had been King Hugh Capet's aspirations: fain would he have matched his son with an Emperor's daughter. 8. The results of this union between Robert and Bertha constitute a most important passage in French history. Marriage of Robert and canons of the Marriage between first cousins is discouraged by popular feeling;-the Physiologist may per- trary to the haps speak dubiously as to the expediency of Church. such a connexion; but he does not venture further—whilst the Church, actuated by an honest though exaggerated desire for the preservation of family purity, prohibited all intermarriages between parties related to each other, even in the remote degree of consanguinity existing between VOL. III. F 996-1024 Robert and Bertha.-Dispensations might be given, but they were very rarely granted. 996-999 Gregory V. the first Pope. For the first time since the martyrdom of Transalpine Saint Peter, the Apostolic Chair was filled by a Transalpine Pope. Hitherto, none but Jews or Syrians, Greeks or Romans, had attained the dignity. Many amongst the supreme Pontiffs were individuals of mean birth; a circumstance redounding equally to their own honour, and the benefit of the Church. But Bruno the German, reigning as Gregory the Fifth, appointed by the interest, or rather upon the nomination, of Otho III., might boast of the most exalted ancestry in the Western Commonwealth, he, being the son of Otho, Duke of Carinthia, and grandchild of Liutgarda of the silver spindle.-We have already made acquaintance with her as the wife of the unhappy Conrad, who fell on the Lechfeld, fighting against the Magyars. Much coolness, approximating to schism, subsisted between France and Rome. Arnoul, the Archbishop of Rheims, had been re-established by Papal authority, but Robert refused to liberate the Prelate from arrest. At length, the King gave way to the instances of the Legate Leo, in the expectation that the Pope would reciprocate by legitimating the irregular union :— not so, fresh difficulties arose. The Young Emperor, the third Otho, glowered against the Capetians. The soundest Divines denounced the ROBERT AND BERTHA EXCOMMUNICATED. 67 de 998 Council at the Pope Bertha com -Robert and manded to separate. marriage. Moreover, the spiritual affinity be- 996-1024 tween Robert and Bertha,-created, as it was held, by their having joined in sponsorship,presented an obstacle not less formidable than the natural affinity. A Council assembled at Rome, the Emperor being present. Terrible was by the excommunication fulminated against the linquents. Robert and Bertha, commanded to separate, were, in conformity to the canons of the Church, respectively enjoined to perform penance during seven years. At this era, the Pontiffs were no respecters of persons in judgment, hence the contumely cast upon them by the world. If guilty, they humbled the Sovereign, even as the meanest sinner, "Thou art the man," was the sentence which condemned him. Gregory acted cautiously, calmly, and considerately, and without displaying much partizanship; but Gerbert, who sat at the foot of the throne, that throne soon to be ascended by himself as the first Pope of the Romane tongue, exerted all his powerful influence against Bertha. An overwhelming majority of the French Clergy opposed the King and Queen, entering into the controversy so passionately, that the excellent Abbo of Fleury repaired to Rome for the purpose of supporting the Pontiff in his adverse decision. Public opinion in France ran equally strong amongst the Laity against the Royal delinquents. The connexion was stigmatized as foully sinful, and the feeling excited thereby cannot be dis |