Melun surrenders. Gautier and his wife hanged. 78 BURCHARD RECOVERS MELUN. 996-1024 by avenging justice; Gautier's treachery was the more odious, because when he betrayed the City to Eudes, Burchard was on duty at Paris attending the King. No compassion did the noble but forsworn vassals obtain. The hideous gallows was raised, and, when day was dawning, the quivering corpses of Gautier and his wife were seen suspended from the fatal tree. Such a degrading execution of a high-born woman has very few parallels: and yet, comparatively, the judgment was passed in mercy, for had the law taken its course, she would assuredly have been burnt alive. Burchard re-entered Melun, and resumed his authority there. Eudes marched up, and was thoroughly defeated, flying disgracefully. And thus was the pride of the House of Blois temporarily brought low. 14. The recovery of Melun having been thus effected by Richard's sturdiness, a sharp but brief contest called him again into the field. War had broken out between Henry the Emperor, Saint Henry, as he is termed and the then reigning Count of Flanders, Baudouin-à-labelle-barbe, great grandson of Arnold le-Vieux, whilom the worst of the three bad neighbours; but Lyderic's lineage may be presented to us Flanders, under a more pleasant aspect-he, the said Baudouin, being grandfather of William the Conqueror's excellent wife Matilda: for he was the father of Baudouin de Lisle, or le-Pieux, of whom Matilda was the eldest child.-Baudouin obtained Lyderic, Vol. I. 532. BAUDOUIN-A-LA-BELLE-BARBE. 79 his popular epithet from the beauty and ampli- 996-1024 tude of his chesnut-coloured beard. 1006 la-belle as- barbe and assists Richard A good and kindly prince was Baudouin, but, inheriting the ambition of his ancestors; he serted claims to Valenciennes in Hainault, the Emperor applied to King Robert for aid. bert assenting, he summoned Richard le-Bon to his assistance, who gladly accepted the invitation. Ro Emperor, King, and Duke, beleaguered the city. A compromise ensued, and a change of opinions having taken place, a good understanding subsisted henceforward between Normandy and the country whose sturdy sons contributed so influentially to the Conquest of England, and also scarcely in a less degree to the reduction of Scotland under the Anglo-Saxon race-for what are the Lowland Scots but Danes or Flemings, or Anglo-Saxon Northumbrians? 15 Bright visions of ambition floated before the mind of Richard; indistinct, yet sufficiently perceptible, inasmuch as they afford us some guidance whilst investigating a most perplexed history, in which any trace or track is acceptable in guiding us through the labyrinth. These schemes for the future enhancement of Norman glory, Richard could not forward otherwise than by a cordial alliance with King Robert, and circumstances were such as now enabled him to render most important help to that Sovereign. Normandy, tranquil, prosperous, and teeming with a military population, every ser in the siege of Valenciennes. 80 GEOFFREY FIRST DUKE OF BRITTANY. affairs. 996-1024 viceable man yearning to do service, ever rejoicing in siege, battle, inroad or plunder; Armorican whilst at the same time the restless Armoricans were not only unable to give him uneasiness or annoyance, but anxious to obtain his support and aid. 992-1008 Geoffrey, Count of Rennes, and first Duke of Brittany. 996- The Norman The history of this important territory, so intimately connected with Normandy, and through Normandy with England, must here be perfunctorily resumed. Since the death of Alain Barbe Torte, six Counts had succeeded, either nominally or really, to his authority; or perhaps we should say more correctly, to contest that authority either amongst themselves or against the wily Blois and ambitious Anjou; and, whenever the latter house is named, the ancestors of the Plantagenets come before us, encreasing in power and magnificence. At length Geoffrey, Count of Rennes, prevailed over his competitors: a bold and active Prince, the first who wrote himself Duke of Brittany. Under his authority, the Armorican Commonwealth assumed more consistency, but Blois menaced sullenly: Anjou, more formidably, proffered protection to Geoffrey; the Danes were threatening; and the renewal of the antient connexion with Normandy afforded the best expectation for political security,-which soon took place most cordially. § 16. Like Austria, Normandy owed much damsels. to marriage, and there was a plausible foundation for the merry saying, that Normandy's Daugh- 996-1024 ters contributed to her singular aggrandizement no less than the valour and policy of her sons. Certainly, according to the common colloquial expression, these Princesses had a right to be winning, their witchery was in their blood.They were handsome by inheritance. Richard ? 17. Again we are entangled amongst the Alliances of complications of this family history. There are daughters. two arrays of damsels with whom we ought to deal the daughters of Richard Sans-peur, and the daughters of Richard le-Bon; but the information we possess concerning Richard Sanspeur's female issue is neither consistent nor clear, -even their number is uncertain. Three or four of them present themselves, about whom the most critical Genealogists contend; and each has an alias, further perplexing us. No one amongst Richard Sans-peur's girls was married during her father's lifetime, and, therefore, upon his demise, Richard le-Bon became the natural guardian of his sisters. Hawisa, the third, is the first whom we are called upon to notice, and her marriage constitutes an important era in the conjoint annals of Normandy and of Brittany. The lusty Males of Rollo's house appertained to a fine race; and if any potent Count or Baron from beyond the border sought a consort in the Ducal Palace, he was assuredly attracted equally by talent and by beauty. Happier far, however, were the Normandes in their position than VOL. III. G 82 INTERMARRIAGES WITH BRITTANY. 996-1024 they would have been, had they obtained such importance as is attached to Woman in the history of France: the Ladies connected with the Ducal circle rarely became influential otherwise than when presented in their proper sphere. It is as discreet wives and affectionate mothers that the Norman Athelizas are mainly known-we encounter only one exception. And, despite of irregularities-the history of Normandy abounds with examples of decent and pleasant gallantry; no family record in which we find more sincere Wooers, the flame of love honestly kindled by the good report of the goodly damsels: real bonâ fide love-matches, the Suitor coming forward in person to make himself agreeable, like Tête-d'étoupe, when he was so disdainfully kicked by Guillaume Longue-épée. Such a one was Godfrey, the son Brittany of Conan, now ruling in Armorica.-As a Preud Chevalier does the Briezad Chieftain now appear before us. The Trouveur delights in telling how the young Duke of Brittany put himself in thorough order for courting, having, as we infer, received encouragement from Richard le-Bon, when he solicited Hawisa's hand.-Nor did any bashfulness, real or conventional, delay her yea-word. 996. Duke marries Hawisa, Richard le-Bon's sister. Some remarkable circumstances attend this marriage. It is expressly stated by the prose Chronicler, that Godfrey and his Bride were married more Christiano, implying, according to the emphasis laid upon the fact, that the sanc |