The Little Duke...................................................................................................................................................1

Charlotte M. Yonge.................................................................................................................................1

CHAPTER I .............................................................................................................................................1

CHAPTER II ............................................................................................................................................6

CHAPTER III........................................................................................................................................12

CHAPTER IV........................................................................................................................................15

CHAPTER V.........................................................................................................................................20

CHAPTER VI........................................................................................................................................29

CHAPTER VII .......................................................................................................................................35

CHAPTER VIII.....................................................................................................................................41

CHAPTER IX........................................................................................................................................48

CHAPTER X.........................................................................................................................................53

CHAPTER XI........................................................................................................................................57

CHAPTER XII .......................................................................................................................................59

On a bright autumn day, as long ago as the year 943, there was a great bustle in the Castle of Bayeux in

The hall was large and low, the roof arched, and supported on thick short columns, almost like the crypt of a

Cathedral; the walls were thick, and the windows, which had no glass, were very small, set in such a depth of

wall that there was a wide deep window seat, upon which the rain might beat, without reaching the interior of

the room. And even if it had come in, there was nothing for it to hurt, for the walls were of rough stone, and

the floor of tiles. There was a fire at each end of this great dark apartment, but there were no chimneys over

the ample hearths, and the smoke curled about in thick white folds in the vaulted roof, adding to the wreaths

The fire at the lower end was by far the largest and hottest. Great black cauldrons hung over it, and servants,

both men and women, with red faces, bare and grimed arms, and long iron hooks, or pots and pans, were

busied around it. At the other end, which was raised about three steps above the floor of the hall, other

servants were engaged. Two young maidens were strewing fresh rushes on the floor; some men were setting

up a long table of rough boards, supported on trestles, and then ranging upon it silver cups, drinking horns,

Benches were placed to receive most of the guests, but in the middle, at the place of honour, was a high chair

with very thick crossing legs, and the arms curiously carved with lions' faces and claws; a clumsy wooden

footstool was set in front, and the silver drinkingcup on the table was of far more beautiful workmanship

than the others, richly chased with vine leaves and grapes, and figures of little boys with goats' legs. If that

cup could have told its story, it would have been a strange one, for it had been made long since, in the old

From one of these scenes of activity to the other, there moved a stately old lady: her long thick light hair,

hardly touched with grey, was bound round her head, under a tall white cap, with a band passing under her

chin: she wore a long sweeping dark robe, with wide hanging sleeves, and thick gold earrings and necklace,

which had possibly come from the same quarter as the cup. She directed the servants, inspected both the

cookery and arrangements of the table, held council with an old steward, now and then looked rather

anxiously from the window, as if expecting some one, and began to say something about fears that these

loitering youths would not bring home the venison in time for Duke William's supper.

Presently, she looked up rejoiced, for a few notes of a buglehorn were sounded; there was a clattering of

feet, and in a few moments there bounded into the hall, a boy of about eight years old, his cheeks and large

blue eyes bright with air and exercise, and his long lightbrown hair streaming behind him, as he ran forward

flourishing a bow in his hand, and crying out, "I hit him, I hit him! Dame Astrida, do you hear? 'Tis a stag of

"Oh, no, I only struck him. It was Osmond's shaft that took him in the eye, andLook you, Fru Astrida, he

came thus through the wood, and I stood here, it might be, under the great elm with my bow thus" And

Richard was beginning to act over again the whole scene of the deerhunt, but Fru, that is to say, Lady

Astrida, was too busy to listen, and broke in with, "Have they brought home the haunch?"

A stout forester was at this instant seen bringing in the venison, and Dame Astrida hastened to meet it, and

gave directions, little Richard following her all the way, and talking as eagerly as if she was attending to him,

showing how he shot, how Osmond shot, how the deer bounded, and how it fell, and then counting the

branches of its antlers, always ending with, "This is something to tell my father. Do you think he will come

In the meantime two men entered the hall, one about fifty, the other, one or twoandtwenty, both in hunting

dresses of plain leather, crossed by broad embroidered belts, supporting a knife, and a bugle horn. The elder

was broadshouldered, sunburnt, ruddy, and rather sternlooking; the younger, who was also the taller, was

slightly made, and very active, with a bright keen grey eye, and merry smile. These were Dame Astrida's son,

Sir Eric de Centeville, and her grandson, Osmond; and to their care Duke William of Normandy had

It was always the custom among the Northmen, that young princes should thus be put under the care of some

trusty vassal, instead of being brought up at home, and one reason why the Centevilles had been chosen by

Duke William was, that both Sir Eric and his mother spoke only the old Norwegian tongue, which he wished

young Richard to understand well, whereas, in other parts of the Duchy, the Normans had forgotten their own

tongue, and had taken up what was then called the Langued'oui, a language between German and Latin,

On this day, Duke William himself was expected at Bayeux, to pay a visit to his son before setting out on a

journey to settle the disputes between the Counts of Flanders and Montreuil, and this was the reason of Fru

Astrida's great preparations. No sooner had she seen the haunch placed upon a spit, which a little boy was to

turn before the fire, than she turned to dress something else, namely, the young Prince Richard himself,

whom she led off to one of the upper rooms, and there he had full time to talk, while she, great lady though

she was, herself combed smooth his long flowing curls, and fastened his short scarlet cloth tunic, which just

reached to his knee, leaving his neck, arms, and legs bare. He begged hard to be allowed to wear a short,

beautifully ornamented dagger at his belt, but this Fru Astrida would not allow.

"You will have enough to do with steel and dagger before your life is at an end," said she, "without seeking to

"To be sure I shall," answered Richard. "I will be called Richard of the Sharp Axe, or the Bold Spirit, I

promise you, Fru Astrida. We are as brave in these days as the Sigurds and Ragnars you sing of! I only wish

"Never fear but you will find even too many of them," said Dame Astrida; "there be dragons of wrong here

"I fear them not," said Richard, but half understanding her, "if you would only let me have the dagger! But,

hark! hark!" he darted to the window. "They come, they come! There is the banner of Normandy."

Away ran the happy child, and never rested till he stood at the bottom of the long, steep, stone stair, leading

to the embattled porch. Thither came the Baron de Centeville, and his son, to receive their Prince. Richard

looked up at Osmond, saying, "Let me hold his stirrup," and then sprang up and shouted for joy, as under the

arched gateway there came a tall black horse, bearing the stately form of the Duke of Normandy. His purple

robe was fastened round him by a rich belt, sustaining the mighty weapon, from which he was called

"William of the long Sword," his legs and feet were cased in linked steel chainwork, his gilded spurs were

on his heels, and his short brown hair was covered by his ducal cap of purple, turned up with fur, and a

feather fastened in by a jewelled clasp. His brow was grave and thoughtful, and there was something both of

dignity and sorrow in his face, at the first moment of looking at it, recalling the recollection that he had early

lost his young wife, the Duchess Emma, and that he was beset by many cares and toils; but the next glance

generally conveyed encouragement, so full of mildness were his eyes, and so kind the expression of his lips.

And now, how bright a smile beamed upon the little Richard, who, for the first time, paid him the duty of a

pupil in chivalry, by holding the stirrup while he sprung from his horse. Next, Richard knelt to receive his

blessing, which was always the custom when children met their parents. The Duke laid his hand on his head,

saying, "God of His mercy bless thee, my son," and lifting him in his arms, held him to his breast, and let him

cling to his neck and kiss him again and again, before setting him down, while Sir Eric came forward, bent

It would take too long to tell all the friendly and courteous words that were spoken, the greeting of the Duke

and the noble old Lady Astrida, and the reception of the Barons who had come in the train of their Lord.

Richard was bidden to greet them, but, though he held out his hand as desired, he shrank a little to his father's

There was Count Bernard, of Harcourt, called the "Dane," {2} with his shaggy red hair and beard, to which a

touch of grey had given a strange unnatural tint, his eyes looking fierce and wild under his thick eyebrows,

one of them misshapen in consequence of a sword cut, which had left a broad red and purple scar across

both cheek and forehead. There, too, came tall Baron Rainulf, of Ferrieres, cased in a linked steel hauberk,

that rang as he walked, and the menat arms, with helmets and shields, looking as if Sir Eric's armour that

They sat down to Fru Astrida's banquet, the old Lady at the Duke's right hand, and the Count of Harcourt on

his left; Osmond carved for the Duke, and Richard handed his cup and trencher. All through the meal, the

Duke and his Lords talked earnestly of the expedition on which they were bound to meet Count Arnulf of

Flanders, on a little islet in the river Somme, there to come to some agreement, by which Arnulf might make

restitution to Count Herluin of Montreuil, for certain wrongs which he had done him.

Some said that this would be the fittest time for requiring Arnulf to yield up some towns on his borders, to

which Normandy had long laid claim, but the Duke shook his head, saying that he must seek no selfish

Richard was rather tired of their grave talk, and thought the supper very long; but at last it was over, the

Grace was said, the boards which had served for tables were removed, and as it was still light, some of the

guests went to see how their steeds had been bestowed, others to look at Sir Eric's horses and hounds, and

The Duke had time to attend to his little boy, and Richard sat upon his knee and talked, told about all his

pleasures, how his arrow had hit the deer today, how Sir Eric let him ride out to the chase on his little pony,

how Osmond would take him to bathe in the cool bright river, and how he had watched the raven's nest in the

Duke William listened, and smiled, and seemed as well pleased to hear as the boy was to tell. "And,

Richard," said he at last, "have you nought to tell me of Father Lucas, and his great book? What, not a word?

"Oh, father!" said Richard, in a low voice, playing with the clasp of his father's belt, and looking down, "I

"Yes, father, I do, but they are very hard, and the words are so long, and Father Lucas will always come when

the sun is so bright, and the wood so green, that I know not how to bear to be kept poring over those black

"Poor little fellow," said Duke William, smiling and Richard, rather encouraged, went on more boldly. "You

"And Sir Eric cannot read, nor Osmond, nor any one, and why must I read, and cramp my fingers with

writing, just as if I was a clerk, instead of a young Duke?" Richard looked up in his father's face, and then

hung his head, as if halfashamed of questioning his will, but the Duke answered him without displeasure.

"It is hard, no doubt, my boy, to you now, but it will be the better for you in the end. I would give much to be

able myself to read those holy books which I must now only hear read to me by a clerk, but since I have had

"And do you think it a reason they never should? But you are wrong, my boy, for the Kings of France and

England, the Counts of Anjou, of Provence, and Paris, yes, even King Hako of Norway, {4} can all read."

"I tell you, Richard, when the treaty was drawn up for restoring this King Louis to his throne, I was ashamed

to find myself one of the few crown vassals who could not write his name thereto."

"But none is so wise or so good as you, father," said Richard, proudly. "Sir Eric often says so."

"Sir Eric loves his Duke too well to see his faults," said Duke William; "but far better and wiser might I have

been, had I been taught by such masters as you may be. And hark, Richard, not only can all Princes here read,

but in England, King Ethelstane would have every Noble taught; they study in his own palace, with his

brothers, and read the good words that King Alfred the truthteller put into their own tongue for them."

"Because they traitorously killed the brave Sea King Ragnar! Fru Astrida sings his deathsong, which he

chanted when the vipers were gnawing him to death, and he gloried to think how his sons would bring the

ravens to feast upon the Saxon. Oh! had I been his son, how I would have carried on the feud! How I would

have laughed when I cut down the false traitors, and burnt their palaces!" Richard's eye kindled, and his

words, as he spoke the old Norse language, flowed into the sort of wild verse in which the Sagas or legendary

"Fru Astrida must sing you no more such Sagas," said he, "if they fill your mind with these revengeful

thoughts, fit only for the worshippers of Odin and Thor. Neither Ragnar nor his sons knew better than to

rejoice in this deadly vengeance, but we, who are Christians, know that it is for us to forgive."

"The English had slain their father!" said Richard, looking up with wondering dissatisfied eyes.

"Yes, Richard, and I speak not against them, for they were even as we should have been, had not King Harold

the fairhaired driven your grandfather from Denmark. They had not been taught the truth, but to us it has

been said, 'Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.' Listen to me, my son, Christian as is this nation of ours, this

duty of forgiveness is too often neglected, but let it not be so with you. Bear in mind, whenever you see the

Cross {5} marked on our banner, or carved in stone on the Churches, that it speaks of forgiveness to us; but

of that pardon we shall never taste if we forgive not our enemies. Do you mark me, boy?"

Richard hesitated a little, and then said, "Yes, father, but I could never have pardoned, had I been one of

"It may be that you will be in their case, Richard," said the Duke, "and should I fall, as it may well be I shall,

in some of the contests that tear to pieces this unhappy Kingdom of France, then, remember what I say now. I

charge you, on your duty to God and to your father, that you keep up no feud, no hatred, but rather that you

should deem me best revenged, when you have with heart and hand, given the fullest proof of forgiveness to

"Yes, father," said Richard, with rather a subdued tone, and resting his head on his father's shoulder. There

was a silence for a little space, during which he began to revive into playfulness, to stroke the Duke's short

In so doing, his fingers caught hold of a silver chain, and pulling it out with a jerk, he saw a silver key

attached to it. "Oh, what is that?" he asked eagerly. "What does that key unlock?"

"My greatest treasure," replied Duke William, as he replaced the chain and key within his robe.

"You will know one day," said his father, putting the little hand down from its too busy investigations; and

some of the Barons at that moment returning into the hall, he had no more leisure to bestow on his little son.

The next day, after morning service in the Chapel, and breakfast in the hall, the Duke again set forward on his

journey, giving Richard hopes he might return in a fortnight's time, and obtaining from him a promise that he

would be very attentive to Father Lucas, and very obedient to Sir Eric de Centeville.

One evening Fru Astrida sat in her tall chair in the chimney corner, her distaff, with its load of flax in her

hand, while she twisted and drew out the thread, and her spindle danced on the floor. Opposite to her sat,

sleeping in his chair, Sir Eric de Centeville; Osmond was on a low bench within the chimney corner,

trimming and shaping with his knife some feathers of the wild goose, which were to fly in a different fashion

from their former one, and serve, not to wing the flight of a harmless goose, but of a sharp arrow.

The men of the household sat ranged on benches on one side of the hall, the women on the other; a great red

fire, together with an immense flickering lamp which hung from the ceiling, supplied the light; the windows

were closed with wooden shutters, and the whole apartment had a cheerful appearance. Two or three large

hounds were reposing in front of the hearth, and among them sat little Richard of Normandy, now smoothing

down their broad silken ears; now tickling the large cushions of their feet with the end of one of Osmond's

feathers; now fairly pulling open the eyes of one of the goodnatured sleepy creatures, which only stretched

its legs, and remonstrated with a sort of low groan, rather than a growl. The boy's eyes were, all the time,

intently fixed on Dame Astrida, as if he would not lose one word of the story she was telling him; how Earl

Rollo, his grandfather, had sailed into the mouth of the Seine, and how Archbishop Franco, of Rouen, had

come to meet him and brought him the keys of the town, and how not one Neustrian of Rouen had met with

harm from the brave Northmen. Then she told him of his grandfather's baptism, and how during the seven

days that he wore his white baptismal robes, he had made large gifts to all the chief churches in his dukedom

"Oh, but tell of the paying homage!" said Richard; "and how Sigurd Bloodaxe threw down simple King

"Nay, nay, Lord Richard," said the old lady, "I love not that tale. That was ere the Norman learnt courtesy,

and rudeness ought rather to be forgotten than remembered, save for the sake of amending it. No, I will rather

tell you of our coming to Centeville, and how dreary I thought these smooth meads, and broad soft gliding

streams, compared with mine own father's fiord in Norway, shut in with the tall black rocks, and dark pines

above them, and far away the snowy mountains rising into the sky. Ah! how blue the waters were in the long

Dame Astrida was interrupted. A bugle note rang out at the castle gate; the dogs started to their feet, and

uttered a sudden deafening bark; Osmond sprung up, exclaiming, "Hark!" and trying to silence the hounds;

and Richard running to Sir Eric, cried, "Wake, wake, Sir Eric, my father is come! Oh, haste to open the gate,

"Peace, dogs!" said Sir Eric, slowly rising, as the blast of the horn was repeated. "Go, Osmond, with the

porter, and see whether he who comes at such an hour be friend or foe. Stay you here, my Lord," he added, as

Richard was running after Osmond; and the little boy obeyed, and stood still, though quivering all over with

"Tidings from the Duke, I should guess," said Fru Astrida. "It can scarce be himself at such an hour."

"Oh, it must be, dear Fru Astrida!" said Richard. "He said he would come again. Hark, there are horses' feet

in the court! I am sure that is his black charger's tread! And I shall not be there to hold his stirrup! Oh! Sir

Sir Eric, always a man of few words, only shook his head, and at that moment steps were heard on the stone

stairs. Again Richard was about to spring forward, when Osmond returned, his face showing, at a glance, that

something was amiss; but all that he said was, "Count Bernard of Harcourt, and Sir Rainulf de Ferrieres," and

Richard stood still in the midst of the hall, disappointed. Without greeting to Sir Eric, or to any within the

hall, the Count of Harcourt came forward to Richard, bent his knee before him, took his hand, and said with a

broken voice and heaving breast, "Richard, Duke of Normandy, I am thy liegeman and true vassal;" then

rising from his knees while Rainulf de Ferrieres went through the same form, the old man covered his face

"Is it even so?" said the Baron de Centeville; and being answered by a mournful look and sigh from Ferrieres,

he too bent before the boy, and repeated the words, "I am thy liegeman and true vassal, and swear fealty to

"Oh, no, no!" cried Richard, drawing back his hand in a sort of agony, feeling as if he was in a frightful

dream from which he could not awake. "What means it? Oh! Fru Astrida, tell me what means it? Where is my

"Alas, my child!" said the old lady, putting her arm round him, and drawing him close to her, whilst her tears

flowed fast, and Richard stood, reassured by her embrace, listening with eyes open wide, and deep oppressed

breathing, to what was passing between the four nobles, who spoke earnestly among themselves, without

"The Duke dead!" repeated Sir Eric de Centeville, like one stunned and stupefied.

"Even so," said Rainulf, slowly and sadly, and the silence was only broken by the longdrawn sobs of old

"But how? when? where?" broke forth Sir Eric, presently. "There was no note of battle when you went forth.

"It was not sickness," answered Ferrieres. "It was treachery. He fell in the Isle of Pecquigny, by the hand of

"Lives the traitor yet?" cried the Baron de Centeville, grasping his good sword.

"He lives and rejoices in his crime," said Ferrieres, "safe in his own merchant towns."

"I can scarce credit you, my Lords!" said Sir Eric. "Our Duke slain, and his enemy safe, and you here to tell

"I would I were stark and stiff by my Lord's side!" said Count Bernard, "but for the sake of Normandy, and of

that poor child, who is like to need all that ever were friends to his house. I would that mine eyes had been

blinded for ever, ere they had seen that sight! And not a sword lifted in his defence! Tell you how it passed,

He threw himself on a bench and covered his face with his mantle, while Rainulf de Ferrieres proceeded:

"You know how in an evil hour our good Duke appointed to meet this caitiff, Count of Flanders, in the Isle of

Pecquigny, the Duke and Count each bringing twelve men with them, all unarmed. Duke Alan of Brittany

was one on our side, Count Bernard here another, old Count Bothon and myself; we bore no weaponwould

that we hadbut not so the false Flemings. Ah me! I shall never forget Duke William's lordly presence when

"Yes," interposed Bernard. "And marked you not the words of the traitor, as they met? 'My Lord,' quoth he,

'you are my shield and defence.' {6} Would that I could cleave his treasonhatching skull with my

"So," continued Rainulf, "they conferred together, and as words cost nothing to Arnulf, he not only promised

all restitution to the paltry Montreuil, but even was for offering to pay homage to our Duke for Flanders

itself; but this our William refused, saying it were foul wrong to both King Louis of France, and Kaiser Otho

of Germany, to take from them their vassal. They took leave of each other in all courtesy, and we embarked

again. It was Duke William's pleasure to go alone in a small boat, while we twelve were together in another.

Just as we had nearly reached our own bank, there was a shout from the Flemings that their Count had

somewhat further to say to the Duke, and forbidding us to follow him, the Duke turned his boat and went

back again. No sooner had he set foot on the isle," proceeded the Norman, clenching his hands, and speaking

between his teeth, "than we saw one Fleming strike him on the head with an oar; he fell senseless, the rest

threw themselves upon him, and the next moment held up their bloody daggers in scorn at us! You may well

think how we shouted and yelled at them, and plied our oars like men distracted, but all in vain, they were

already in their boats, and ere we could even reach the isle, they were on the other side of the river, mounted

their horses, fled with coward speed, and were out of reach of a Norman's vengeance."

"But they shall not be so long!" cried Richard, starting forward; for to his childish fancy this dreadful history

was more like one of Dame Astrida's legends than a reality, and at the moment his thought was only of the

blackness of the treason. "Oh, that I were a man to chastise them! One day they shall feel"

He broke off short, for he remembered how his father had forbidden his denunciations of vengeance, but his

words were eagerly caught up by the Barons, who, as Duke William had said, were far from possessing any

temper of forgiveness, thought revenge a duty, and were only glad to see a warlike spirit in their new Prince.

"Ha! say you so, my young Lord?" exclaimed old Count Bernard, rising. "Yes, and I see a sparkle in your eye

Richard drew up his head, and his heart throbbed high as Sir Eric made answer, "Ay, truly, that will he! You

might search Normandy through, yea, and Norway likewise, ere you would find a temper more bold and free.

Trust my word, Count Bernard, our young Duke will be famed as widely as ever were his forefathers!"

"I believe it well!" said Bernard. "He hath the port of his grandfather, Duke Rollo, and much, too, of his

noble father! How say you, Lord Richard, will you be a valiant leader of the Norman race against our foes?"

"That I will!" said Richard, carried away by the applause excited by those few words of his. "I will ride at

"You shall ride with us tomorrow, my Lord," answered Bernard, "but it must be to Rouen, there to be

invested with your ducal sword and mantle, and to receive the homage of your vassals."

Richard drooped his head without replying, for this seemed to bring to him the perception that his father was

really gone, and that he should never see him again. He thought of all his projects for the day of his return,

how he had almost counted the hours, and had looked forward to telling him that Father Lucas was well

pleased with him! And now he should never nestle into his breast again, never hear his voice, never see those

kind eyes beam upon him. Large tears gathered in his eyes, and ashamed that they should be seen, he sat

down on a footstool at Fru Astrida's feet, leant his forehead on his hands, and thought over all that his father

had done and said the last time they were together. He fancied the return that had been promised, going over

the meeting and the greeting, till he had almost persuaded himself that this dreadful story was but a dream.

But when he looked up, there were the Barons, with their grave mournful faces, speaking of the corpse,

which Duke Alan of Brittany was escorting to Rouen, there to be buried beside the old Duke Rollo, and the

Duchess Emma, Richard's mother. Then he lost himself in wonder how that stiff bleeding body could be the

same as the father whose arm was so lately around him, and whether his father's spirit knew how he was

thinking of him; and in these dreamy thoughts, the young orphan Duke of Normandy, forgotten by his vassals

in their grave councils, fell asleep, and scarce wakened enough to attend to his prayers, when Fru Astrida at

When Richard awoke the next morning, he could hardly believe that all that had passed in the evening was

true, but soon he found that it was but too real, and all was prepared for him to go to Rouen with the vassals;

indeed, it was for no other purpose than to fetch him that the Count of Harcourt had come to Bayeux. Fru

Astrida was quite unhappy that "the child," as she called him, should go alone with the warriors; but Sir Eric

laughed at her, and said that it would never do for the Duke of Normandy to bring his nurse with him in his

first entry into Rouen, and she must be content to follow at some space behind under the escort of Walter the

So she took leave of Richard, charging both Sir Eric and Osmond to have the utmost care of him, and

shedding tears as if the parting was to be for a much longer space; then he bade farewell to the servants of the

castle, received the blessing of Father Lucas, and mounting his pony, rode off between Sir Eric and Count

Bernard. Richard was but a little boy, and he did not think so much of his loss, as he rode along in the free

morning air, feeling himself a Prince at the head of his vassals, his banner displayed before him, and the

people coming out wherever he passed to gaze on him, and call for blessings on his name. Rainulf de

Ferrieres carried a large heavy purse filled with silver and gold, and whenever they came to these gazing

crowds, Richard was well pleased to thrust his hands deep into it, and scatter handfuls of coins among the

They stopped to dine and rest in the middle of the day, at the castle of a Baron, who, as soon as the meal was

over, mounted his horse, and joined them in their ride to Rouen. So far it had not been very different from

Richard's last journey, when he went to keep Christmas there with his father; but now they were beginning to

come nearer the town, he knew the broad river Seine again, and saw the square tower of the Cathedral, and he

remembered how at that very place his father had met him, and how he had ridden by his side into the town,

His heart was very heavy, as he recollected there was no one now to meet and welcome him; scarcely any one

to whom he could even tell his thoughts, for those tall grave Barons had nothing to say to such a little boy,

and the very respect and formality with which they treated him, made him shrink from them still more,

especially from the grimfaced Bernard; and Osmond, his own friend and playfellow, was obliged to ride far

They entered the town just as it was growing dark. Count Bernard looked back and arrayed the procession;

Eric de Centeville bade Richard sit upright and not look weary, and then all the Knights held back while the

little Duke rode alone a little in advance of them through the gateway. There was a loud shout of "Long live

the little Duke!" and crowds of people were standing round to gaze upon his entry, so many that the bag of

coins was soon emptied by his largesses. The whole city was like one great castle, shut in by a wall and moat,

and with Rollo's Tower rising at one end like the keep of a castle, and it was thither that Richard was turning

his horse, when the Count of Harcourt said, "Nay, my Lord, to the Church of our Lady." {7}

It was then considered a duty to be paid to the deceased, that their relatives and friends should visit them as

they lay in state, and sprinkle them with drops of holy water, and Richard was now to pay this token of

respect. He trembled a little, and yet it did not seem quite so dreary, since he should once more look on his

father's face, and he accordingly rode towards the Cathedral. It was then very unlike what it is now; the walls

were very thick, the windows small and almost buried in heavy carved arches, the columns within were low,

clumsy, and circular, and it was usually so dark that the vaulting of the roof could scarcely be seen.

Now, however, a whole flood of light poured forth from every window, and when Richard came to the door,

he saw not only the two tall thick candles that always burnt on each side of the Altar, but in the Chancel stood

a double row ranged in a square, shedding a pure, quiet brilliancy throughout the building, and chiefly on the

silver and gold ornaments of the Altar. Outside these lights knelt a row of priests in dark garments, their

heads bowed over their clasped hands, and their chanted psalms sounding sweet, and full of soothing music.

Richard trembled still more with awe, and would have paused, but he was obliged to proceed. He dipped his

hand in the water of the font, crossed his brow, and came slowly on, sprinkled the remaining drops on the

lifeless figure, and then stood still. There was an oppression on his breast as if he could neither breathe nor

There lay William of the Long Sword, like a good and true Christian warrior, arrayed in his shining armour,

his sword by his side, his shield on his arm, and a cross between his hands, clasped upon his breast. His ducal

mantle of crimson velvet, lined with ermine, was round his shoulders, and, instead of a helmet, his coronet

was on his head; but, in contrast with this rich array, over the collar of the hauberk, was folded the edge of a

rough hair shirt, which the Duke had worn beneath his robes, unknown to all, until his corpse was disrobed of

his bloodstained garments. His face looked full of calm, solemn peace, as if he had gently fallen asleep, and

was only awaiting the great call to awaken. There was not a single token of violence visible about him, save

that one side of his forehead bore a deep purple mark, where he had first been struck by the blow of the oar

"See you that, my Lord?" said Count Bernard, first breaking the silence, in a low, deep, stern voice.

Richard had heard little for many hours past save counsels against the Flemings, and plans of bitter enmity

against them; and the sight of his murdered father, with that look and tone of the old Dane, fired his spirit,

and breaking from his trance of silent awe and grief, he exclaimed, "I see it, and dearly shall the traitor

Fleming abye it!" Then, encouraged by the applauding looks of the nobles, he proceeded, feeling like one of

the young champions of Fru Astrida's songs. His cheek was coloured, his eye lighted up, and he lifted his

head, so that the hair fell back from his forehead; he laid his hand on the hilt of his father's sword, and spoke

on in words, perhaps, suggested by some sage. "Yes, Arnulf of Flanders, know that Duke William of

Normandy shall not rest unavenged! On this good sword I vow, that, as soon as my arm shall have

The rest was left unspoken, for a hand was laid on his arm. A priest, who had hitherto been kneeling near the

head of the corpse, had risen, and stood tall and dark over him, and, looking up, he recognized the pale, grave

countenance of Martin, Abbot of Jumieges, his father's chief friend and councillor.

"Richard of Normandy, what sayest thou?" said he, sternly. "Yes, hang thy head, and reply not, rather than

repeat those words. Dost thou come here to disturb the peace of the dead with clamours for vengeance? Dost

thou vow strife and anger on that sword which was never drawn, save in the cause of the poor and distressed?

Wouldst thou rob Him, to whose service thy life has been pledged, and devote thyself to that of His foe? Is

Richard made no answer, but he covered his face with his hands, to hide the tears which were fast streaming.

"Lord Abbot, Lord Abbot, this passes!" exclaimed Bernard the Dane. "Our young Lord is no monk, and we

will not see each spark of noble and knightly spirit quenched as soon as it shows itself."

"Count of Harcourt," said Abbot Martin, "are these the words of a savage Pagan, or of one who has been

washed in yonder blessed font? Never, while I have power, shalt thou darken the child's soul with thy foul

thirst of revenge, insult the presence of thy master with the crime he so abhorred, nor the temple of Him who

came to pardon, with thy hatred. Well do I know, ye Barons of Normandy, that each drop of your blood

would willingly be given, could it bring back our departed Duke, or guard his orphan child; but, if ye have

loved the father, do his biddinglay aside that accursed spirit of hatred and vengeance; if ye love the child,

seek not to injure his soul more deeply than even his bitterest foe, were it Arnulf himself, hath power to hurt

The Barons were silenced, whatever their thoughts might be, and Abbot Martin turned to Richard, whose

tears were still dropping fast through his fingers, as the thought of those last words of his father returned

more clearly upon him. The Abbot laid his hand on his head, and spoke gently to him. "These are tears of a

softened heart, I trust," said he. "I well believe that thou didst scarce know what thou wert saying."

"See there," said the priest, pointing to the large Cross over the Altar, "thou knowest the meaning of that

"It speaks of forgiveness," continued the Abbot. "And knowest thou who gave that pardon? The Son forgave

His murderers; the Father them who slew His Son. And shalt thou call for vengeance?"

"But oh!" said Richard, looking up, "must that cruel, murderous traitor glory unpunished in his crime, while

"Vengeance shall surely overtake the sinner," said Martin, "the vengeance of the Lord, and in His own good

time, but it must not be of thy seeking. Nay, Richard, thou art of all men the most bound to show love and

mercy to Arnulf of Flanders. Yes, when the hand of the Lord hath touched him, and bowed him down in

punishment for his crime, it is then, that thou, whom he hath most deeply injured, shouldst stretch out thine

hand to aid him, and receive him with pardon and peace. If thou dost vow aught on the sword of thy blessed

Richard wept too bitterly to speak, and Bernard de Harcourt, taking his hand, led him away from the Church.

Duke William of the Long Sword was buried the next morning in high pomp and state, with many a prayer

When this was over, little Richard, who had all the time stood or knelt nearest the corpse, in one dull heavy

dream of wonder and sorrow, was led back to the palace, and there his long, heavy, black garments were

taken off, and he was dressed in his short scarlet tunic, his hair was carefully arranged, and then he came

down again into the hall, where there was a great assembly of Barons, some in armour, some in long furred

gowns, who had all been attending his father's burial. Richard, as he was desired by Sir Eric de Centeville,

took off his cap, and bowed low in reply to the reverences with which they all greeted his entrance, and he

then slowly crossed the hall, and descended the steps from the door, while they formed into a procession

behind him, according to their ranks the Duke of Brittany first, and then all the rest, down to the poorest

Thus, they proceeded, in slow and solemn order, till they came to the church of our Lady. The clergy were

there already, ranged in ranks on each side of the Choir; and the Bishops, in their mitres and rich robes, each

with his pastoral staff in his hand, were standing round the Altar. As the little Duke entered, there arose from

all the voices in the Chancel the full, loud, clear chant of Te Deum Laudamus, echoing among the dark vaults

of the roof. To that sound, Richard walked up the Choir, to a large, heavy, crossedlegged, carved chair,

raised on two steps, just before the steps of the Altar began, and there he stood, Bernard de Harcourt and Eric

de Centeville on each side of him, and all his other vassals in due order, in the Choir.

After the beautiful chant of the hymn was ended, the service for the Holy Communion began. When the time

came for the offering, each noble gave gold or silver; and, lastly, Rainulf of Ferrieres came up to the step of

the Altar with a cushion, on which was placed a circlet of gold, the ducal coronet; and another Baron,

following him closely, carried a long, heavy sword, with a cross handle. The Archbishop of Rouen received

both coronet and sword, and laid them on the Altar. Then the service proceeded. At that time the rite of

Confirmation was administered in infancy, and Richard, who had been confirmed by his godfather, the

Archbishop of Rouen, immediately after his baptism, knelt in solemn awe to receive the other Holy

When the administration was over, Richard was led forward to the step of the Altar by Count Bernard, and

Sir Eric, and the Archbishop, laying one hand upon both his, as he held them clasped together, demanded of

him, in the name of God, and of the people of Normandy, whether he would be their good and true ruler,

guard them from their foes, maintain truth, punish iniquity, and protect the Church.

"I will!" answered Richard's young, trembling voice, "So help me God!" and he knelt, and kissed the book of

It was a great and awful oath, and he dreaded to think that he had taken it. He still knelt, put both hands over

The Archbishop waited till he rose, and then, turning him with his face to the people, said, "Richard, by the

Two of the Bishops then hung round his shoulders a crimson velvet mantle, furred with ermine, which, made

as it was for a grown man, hung heavily on the poor child's shoulders, and lay in heaps on the ground. The

Archbishop then set the golden coronet on his long, flowing hair, where it hung so loosely on the little head,

that Sir Eric was obliged to put his hand to it to hold it safe; and, lastly, the long, straight, twohanded sword

was brought and placed in his hand, with another solemn bidding to use it ever in maintaining the right. It

should have been girded to his side, but the great sword was so much taller than the little Duke, that, as it

stood upright by him, he was obliged to raise his arm to put it round the handle.

He then had to return to his throne, which was not done without some difficulty, encumbered as he was, but

Osmond held up the train of his mantle, Sir Eric kept the coronet on his head, and he himself held fast and

lovingly the sword, though the Count of Harcourt offered to carry it for him. He was lifted up to his throne,

and then came the paying him homage; Alan, Duke of Brittany, was the first to kneel before him, and with his

hand between those of the Duke, he swore to be his man, to obey him, and pay him feudal service for his

dukedom of Brittany. In return, Richard swore to be his good Lord, and to protect him from all his foes. Then

followed Bernard the Dane, and many another, each repeating the same formulary, as their large rugged

hands were clasped within those little soft fingers. Many a kind and loving eye was bent in compassion on the

orphan child; many a strong voice faltered with earnestness as it pronounced the vow, and many a brave,

stalwart heart heaved with grief for the murdered father, and tears flowed down the warworn cheeks which

had met the fiercest storms of the northern ocean, as they bent before the young fatherless boy, whom they

loved for the sake of his conquering grandfather, and his brave and pious father. Few Normans were there

whose hearts did not glow at the touch of those small hands, with a love almost of a parent, for their young

The ceremony of receiving homage lasted long and Richard, though interested and touched at first, grew very

weary; the crown and mantle were so heavy, the faces succeeded each other like figures in an endless dream,

and the constant repetition of the same words was very tedious. He grew sleepy, he longed to jump up, to lean

to the right or left, or to speak something besides that regular form. He gave one great yawn, but it brought

him such a frown from the stern face of Bernard, as quite to wake him for a few minutes, and make him sit

upright, and receive the next vassal with as much attention as he had shown the first, but he looked

imploringly at Sir Eric, as if to ask if it ever would be over. At last, far down among the Barons, came one at

whose sight Richard revived a little. It was a boy only a few years older than himself, perhaps about ten, with

a pleasant brown face, black hair, and quick black eyes which glanced, with a look between friendliness and

respect, up into the little Duke's gazing face. Richard listened eagerly for his name, and was refreshed at the

sound of the boyish voice which pronounced, "I, Alberic de Montemar, am thy liegeman and vassal for my

When Alberic moved away, Richard followed him with his eye as far as he could to his place in the

Cathedral, and was taken by surprise when he found the next Baron kneeling before him.

The ceremony of homage came to an end at last, and Richard would fain have run all the way to the palace to

shake off his weariness, but he was obliged to head the procession again; and even when he reached the castle

hall his toils were not over, for there was a great state banquet spread out, and he had to sit in the high chair

where he remembered climbing on his father's knee last Christmasday, all the time that the Barons feasted

round, and held grave converse. Richard's best comfort all this time was in watching Osmond de Centeville

and Alberic de Montemar, who, with the other youths who were not yet knighted, were waiting on those who

sat at the table. At last he grew so very weary, that he fell fast asleep in the corner of his chair, and did not

wake till he was startled by the rough voice of Bernard de Harcourt, calling him to rouse up, and bid the Duke

"Poor child!" said Duke Alan, as Richard rose up, startled, "he is overwearied with this day's work. Take

care of him, Count Bernard; thou a kindly nurse, but a rough one for such a babe. Ha! my young Lord, your

colour mantles at being called a babe! I crave your pardon, for you are a fine spirit. And hark you, Lord

Richard of Normandy, I have little cause to love your race, and little right, I trow, had King Charles the

Simple to call us free Bretons liegemen to a race of plundering Northern pirates. To Duke Rollo's might, my

father never gave his homage; nay, nor did I yield it for all Duke William's long sword, but I did pay it to his

generosity and forbearance, and now I grant it to thy weakness and to his noble memory. I doubt not that the

recreant Frank, Louis, whom he restored to his throne, will strive to profit by thy youth and helplessness, and

should that be, remember that thou hast no surer friend than Alan of Brittany. Fare thee well, my young

"Farewell, Sir," said Richard, willingly giving his hand to be shaken by his kind vassal, and watching him as

"Fair words, but I trust not the Breton," muttered Bernard; "hatred is deeply ingrained in them."

"He should know what the Frank King is made of," said Rainulf de Ferrieres; "he was bred up with him in the

"Ay, and thanks to Duke William that either Louis or Alan are not exiles still. Now we shall see whose

gratitude is worth most, the Frank's or the Breton's. I suspect the Norman valour will be the best to trust to."

"Yes, and how will Norman valour prosper without treasure? Who knows what gold is in the Duke's coffers?"

There was some consultation here in a low voice, and the next thing Richard heard distinctly was, that one of

the Nobles held up a silver chain and key, {9} saying that they had been found on the Duke's neck, and that

"Oh, yes!" said Richard, eagerly, "I know it. He told me it was the key to his greatest treasure."

The Normans heard this with great interest, and it was resolved that several of the most trusted persons,

among whom were the Archbishop of Rouen, Abbot Martin of Jumieges, and the Count of Harcourt, should

go immediately in search of this precious hoard. Richard accompanied them up the narrow rough stone stairs,

to the large dark apartment, where his father had slept. Though a Prince's chamber, it had little furniture; a

low uncurtained bed, a Cross on a ledge near its head, a rude table, a few chairs, and two large chests, were

all it contained. Harcourt tried the lid of one of the chests: it opened, and proved to be full of wearing apparel;

he went to the other, which was smaller, much more carved, and ornamented with very handsome ironwork.

It was locked, and putting in the key, it fitted, the lock turned, and the chest was opened. The Normans

It was a robe of serge, and a pair of sandals, such as were worn in the Abbey of Jumieges.

Then the good Abbot told them the history, part of which was already known to some of them. About five or

six years before, Duke William had been hunting in the forest of Jumieges, when he had suddenly come on

the ruins of the Abbey, which had been wasted thirty or forty years previously by the SeaKing, Hasting.

Two old monks, of the original brotherhood, still survived, and came forth to greet the Duke, and offer him

"Ay!" said Bernard, "well do I remember their bread; we asked if it was made of firbark, like that of our

William, then an eager, thoughtless young man, turned with disgust from this wretched fare, and throwing the

old men some gold, galloped on to enjoy his hunting. In the course of the sport, he was left alone, and

encountered a wild boar, which threw him down, trampled on him, and left him stretched senseless on the

ground, severely injured. His companions coming up, carried him, as the nearest place of shelter, to the ruins

of Jumieges, where the two old monks gladly received him in the remaining portion of their house. As soon

as he recovered his senses, he earnestly asked their pardon for his pride, and the scorn he had shown to the

William had always been a man who chose the good and refused the evil, but this accident, and the long

illness that followed it, made him far more thoughtful and serious than he had ever been before; he made

preparing for death and eternity his first object, and thought less of his worldly affairs, his wars, and his ducal

state. He rebuilt the old Abbey, endowed it richly, and sent for Martin himself from France, to become the

Abbot; he delighted in nothing so much as praying there, conversing with the Abbot, and hearing him read

holy books; and he felt his temporal affairs, and the state and splendour of his rank, so great a temptation, that

he had one day come to the Abbot, and entreated to be allowed to lay them aside, and become a brother of the

order. But Martin had refused to receive his vows. He had told him that he had no right to neglect or forsake

the duties of the station which God had appointed him; that it would be a sin to leave the post which had been

given him to defend; and that the way marked out for him to serve God was by doing justice among his

people, and using his power to defend the right. Not till he had done his allotted work, and his son was old

enough to take his place as ruler of the Normans, might he cease from his active duties, quit the turmoil of the

world, and seek the repose of the cloister. It was in this hope of peaceful retirement, that William had

delighted to treasure up the humble garments that he hoped one day to wear in peace and holiness.

"And oh! my noble Duke!" exclaimed Abbot Martin, bursting into tears, as he finished his narration, "the

Lord hath been very gracious unto thee! He has taken thee home to thy rest, long before thou didst dare to

Slowly, and with subdued feelings, the Norman Barons left the chamber; Richard, whom they seemed to have

almost forgotten, wandered to the stairs, to find his way to the room where he had slept last night. He had not

made many steps before he heard Osmond's voice say, "Here, my Lord;" he looked up, saw a white cap at a

doorway a little above him, he bounded up and flew into Dame Astrida's outstretched arms.

How glad he was to sit in her lap, and lay his wearied head on her bosom, while, with a wornout voice, he

Richard of Normandy was very anxious to know more of the little boy whom he had seen among his vassals.

"Ah! the young Baron de Montemar," said Sir Eric. "I knew his father well, and a brave man he was, though

not of northern blood. He was warden of the marches of the Epte, and was killed by your father's side in the

inroad of the Viscount du Cotentin, {10} at the time when you were born, Lord Richard."

"Montemar is on the bank of the Epte, in the domain that the French wrongfully claim from us. He lives there

with his mother, and if he be not yet returned, you shall see him presently. Osmond, go you and seek out the

Richard had never had a playfellow of his own age, and his eagerness to see Alberic de Montemar was great.

He watched from the window, and at length beheld Osmond entering the court with a boy of ten years old by

his side, and an old greyheaded Squire, with a golden chain to mark him as a Seneschal or Steward of the

Richard ran to the door to meet them, holding out his hand eagerly. Alberic uncovered his bright dark hair,

bowed low and gracefully, but stood as if he did not exactly know what to do next. Richard grew shy at the

same moment, and the two boys stood looking at each other somewhat awkwardly. It was easy to see that

they were of different races, so unlike were the blue eyes, flaxen hair, and fair face of the young Duke, to the

black flashing eyes and olive cheek of his French vassal, who, though two years older, was scarcely above

him in height; and his slight figure, wellproportioned, active and agile as it was, did not give the same

promise of strength as the round limbs and largeboned frame of Richard, which even now seemed likely to

For some minutes the little Duke and the young Baron stood surveying each other without a word, and old Sir

Eric did not improve matters by saying, "Well, Lord Duke, here he is. Have you no better greeting for him?"

"The children are shamefaced," said Fru Astrida, seeing how they both coloured. "Is your Lady mother in

Alberic blushed more deeply, bowed to the old northern lady, and answered fast and low in French, "I cannot

Richard, glad to say something, interpreted Fru Astrida's speech, and Alberic readily made courteous reply

that his mother was well, and he thanked the Dame de Centeville, a French title which sounded new to Fru

Astrida's ears. Then came the embarrassment again, and Fru Astrida at last said, "Take him out, Lord

Richard; take him to see the horses in the stables, or the hounds, or what not."

Richard was not sorry to obey, so out they went into the court of Rollo's tower, and in the open air the

shyness went off. Richard showed his own pony, and Alberic asked if he could leap into the saddle without

putting his foot in the stirrup. No, Richard could not; indeed, even Osmond had never seen it done, for the

"I know I can with my own pony," said Alberic, "for Bertrand will not let me mount in any other way; but I

So the pony was led out. Alberic laid one hand on its mane, and vaulted on its back in a moment. Both

Osmond and Richard broke out loudly into admiration. "Oh, this is nothing!" said Alberic. "Bertrand says it is

nothing. Before he grew old and stiff he could spring into the saddle in this manner fully armed. I ought to do

Richard begged to be shown how to perform the exploit, and Alberic repeated it; then Richard wanted to try,

but the pony's patience would not endure any longer, and Alberic said he had learnt on a block of wood, and

practised on the great wolfhound. They wandered about a little longer in the court, and then climbed up the

spiral stone stairs to the battlements at the top of the tower, where they looked at the housetops of Rouen

close beneath, and the river Seine, broadening and glittering on one side in its course to the sea, and on the

other narrowing to a blue ribbon, winding through the green expanse of fertile Normandy. They threw the

pebbles and bits of mortar down that they might hear them fall, and tried which could stand nearest to the

edge of the battlement without being giddy. Richard was pleased to find that he could go the nearest, and

began to tell some of Fru Astrida's stories about the precipices of Norway, among which when she was a

young girl she used to climb about and tend the cattle in the long light summer time. When the two boys

came down again into the hall to dinner, they felt as if they had known each other all their lives. The dinner

was laid out in full state, and Richard had, as before, to sit in the great thronelike chair with the old Count of

After the dinner, Alberic de Montemar rose to take his leave, as he was to ride half way to his home that

afternoon. Count Bernard, who all dinner time had been watching him intently from under his shaggy

eyebrows, at this moment turned to Richard, whom he hardly ever addressed, and said to him, "Hark ye, my

"To stay with me?" cried Richard, eagerly. "Oh, thanks, Sir Count; and may he stay?"

"Oh, Alberic!" cried Richard, jumping out of his chair of state, and running up to him, "will you not stay with

"Oh, say that you will! I will give you horses, and hawks, and hounds, and I will love youalmost as well as

"Come, young Frenchman, out with it," said Bernard,"no buts! Speak honestly, and at once, like a

This rough speech seemed to restore the little Baron's self possession, and he looked up bright and bold at

"I would serve him with all my heart, but I do not want to stay here. I love the Castle of Montemar better, and

"Brave and true, Sir Frenchman," said the old Count, laying his great hand on Alberic's head, and looking

better pleased than Richard thought his grim features could have appeared. Then turning to Bertrand,

Alberic's Seneschal, he said, "Bear the Count de Harcourt's greetings to the noble Dame de Montemar, and

say to her that her son is of a free bold spirit, and if she would have him bred up with my Lord Duke, as his

"That must be as my mother pleases," answered Alberic bluntly, and with all due civilities he and his

Four or five times a day did Richard ask Osmond and Fru Astrida if they thought Alberic would return, and it

was a great satisfaction to him to find that every one agreed that it would be very foolish in the Dame de

Montemar to refuse so good an offer, only Fru Astrida could not quite believe she would part with her son.

Still no Baron de Montemar arrived, and the little Duke was beginning to think less about his hopes, when

one evening, as he was returning from a ride with Sir Eric and Osmond, he saw four horsemen coming

"It is Alberic himself, I am sure of it!" he exclaimed, and so it proved; and while the Seneschal delivered his

"She said she was not fit to bring up a young warrior of the marches," said Alberic.

"I dare say I shall not mind it soon; and Bertrand is to come and fetch me home to visit her every three

Richard was extremely delighted, and thought he could never do enough to make Rouen pleasant to Alberic,

who after the first day or two cheered up, missed his mother less, managed to talk something between French

and Norman to Sir Eric and Fru Astrida, and became a very animated companion and friend. In one respect

Alberic was a better playfellow for the Duke than Osmond de Centeville, for Osmond, playing as a grown up

man, not for his own amusement, but the child's, had left all the advantages of the game to Richard, who was

growing not a little inclined to domineer. This Alberic did not like, unless, as he said, "it was to be always

Lord and vassal, and then he did not care for the game," and he played with so little animation that Richard

"I can't help it," said Alberic; "if you take all the best chances to yourself, 'tis no sport for me. I will do your

"Then let us play as I did with Bertrand's sons at Montemar. I was their Baron, as you are my Duke, but my

"Then so we will. Come, begin again, Alberic, and you shall have the first turn."

However, Alberic was quite as courteous and respectful to the Duke when they were not at play, as the

difference of their rank required; indeed, he had learnt much more of grace and courtliness of demeanour

from his mother, a Provencal lady, than was yet to be found among the Normans. The Chaplain of Montemar

had begun to teach him to read and write, and he liked learning much better than Richard, who would not

have gone on with Father Lucas's lessons at all, if Abbot Martin of Jumieges had not put him in mind that it

What Richard most disliked was, however, the being obliged to sit in council. The Count of Harcourt did in

truth govern the dukedom, but nothing could be done without the Duke's consent, and once a week at least,

there was held in the great hall of Rollo's tower, what was called a Parlement, or "a talkation," where Count

Bernard, the Archbishop, the Baron de Centeville, the Abbot of Jumieges, and such other Bishops, Nobles, or

Abbots, as might chance to be at Rouen, consulted on the affairs of Normandy; and there the little Duke

always was forced to be present, sitting up in his chair of state, and hearing rather than listening to, questions

about the repairing and guarding of Castles, the asking of loans from the vassals, the appeals from the Barons

of the Exchequer, who were then Nobles sent through the duchy to administer justice, and the discussions

about the proceedings of his neighbours, King Louis of France, Count Foulques of Anjou, and Count Herluin

of Montreuil, and how far the friendship of Hugh of Paris, and Alan of Brittany might be trusted.

Very tired of all this did Richard grow, especially when he found that the Normans had made up their minds

not to attempt a war against the wicked Count of Flanders. He sighed most wearily, yawned again and again,

and moved restlessly about in his chair; but whenever Count Bernard saw him doing so, he received so severe

a look and sign that he grew perfectly to dread the eye of the fierce old Dane. Bernard never spoke to him to

praise him, or to enter into any of his pursuits; he only treated him with the grave distant respect due to him

as a Prince, or else now and then spoke a few stern words to him of reproof for this restlessness, or for some

Used as Richard was to be petted and made much of by the whole house of Centeville, he resented this

considerably in secret, disliked and feared the old Count, and more than once told Alberic de Montemar, that

as soon as he was fourteen, when he would be declared of age, he should send Count Bernard to take care of

his own Castle of Harcourt, instead of letting him sit gloomy and grim in the Castle hall in the evening,

Winter had set in, and Osmond used daily to take the little Duke and Alberic to the nearest sheet of ice, for

the Normans still prided themselves on excelling in skating, though they had long since left the frostbound

One day, as they were returning from the ice, they were surprised, even before they entered the Castle court,

"What may this mean?" said Osmond. "There must surely be a great arrival of the vassals. The Duke of

"Oh," said Richard, piteously, "we have had one council already this week. I hope another is not coming!"

"It must import something extraordinary," proceeded Osmond. "It is a mischance that the Count of Harcourt

Richard thought this no mischance at all, and just then, Alberic, who had run on a little before, came back

exclaiming, "They are French. It is the Frank tongue, not the Norman, that they speak."

"So please you, my Lord," said Osmond, stopping short, "we go not rashly into the midst of them. I would I

Osmond rubbed his forehead and stood considering, while the two boys looked at him anxiously. In a few

seconds, before he had come to any conclusion, there came forth from the gate a Norman Squire,

"My Lord Duke," said he to Richard, in French, "Sir Eric has sent me to bring you tidings that the King of

"Ay!" proceeded the Norman, in his own tongue, "Louis himself, and with a train looking bent on mischief. I

wish it may portend good to my Lord here. You see I am accompanied. I believe from my heart that Louis

meant to prevent you from receiving a warning, and taking the boy out of his clutches."

Richard repeated over to himself the form of homage that he might be perfect in it, and walked on into the

court; Alberic, Osmond, and the rest falling back as he entered. The court was crowded with horses and men,

and it was only by calling out loudly, "The Duke, the Duke," that Osmond could get space enough made for

them to pass. In a few moments Richard had mounted the steps and stood in the great hall.

In the chair of state, at the upper end of the room, sat a small spare man, of about eight or nineandtwenty,

pale, and of a light complexion, with a rich dress of blue and gold. Sir Eric and several other persons stood

respectfully round him, and he was conversing with the Archbishop, who, as well as Sir Eric, cast several

anxious glances at the little Duke as he advanced up the hall. He came up to the King, put his knee to the

ground, and was just beginning, "Louis, King of France, I" when he found himself suddenly lifted from the

ground in the King's arms, and kissed on both cheeks. Then setting him on his knee, the King exclaimed,

"And is this the son of my brave and noble friend, Duke William? Ah! I should have known it from his

Richard was rather overwhelmed, but he thought the King very kind, especially when Louis began to admire

his height and freespirited bearing, and to lament that his own sons, Lothaire and Carloman, were so much

smaller and more backward. He caressed Richard again and again, praised every word he saidFru Astrida

was nothing to him; and Richard began to say to himself how strange and unkind it was of Bernard de

Harcourt to like to find fault with him, when, on the contrary, he deserved all this praise from the King

Duke Richard of Normandy slept in the room which had been his father's; Alberic de Montemar, as his page,

slept at his feet, and Osmond de Centeville had a bed on the floor, across the door, where he lay with his

All had been asleep for some little time, when Osmond was startled by a slight movement of the door, which

could not be pushed open without awakening him. In an instant he had grasped his sword, while he pressed

his shoulder to the door to keep it closed; but it was his father's voice that answered him with a few

whispered words in the Norse tongue, "It is I, open." He made way instantly, and old Sir Eric entered,

treading cautiously with bare feet, and sat down on the bed motioning him to do the same, so that they might

be able to speak lower. "Right, Osmond," he said. "It is well to be on the alert, for peril enough is around

himThe Frank means mischief! I know from a sure hand that Arnulf of Flanders was in council with him

just before he came hither, with his false tongue, wiling and coaxing the poor child!"

"Yes, surely, to carry the boy off with him, and so he trusts doubtless to cut off all the race of Rollo! I know

his purpose is to bear off the Duke, as a ward of the Crown forsooth. Did you not hear him luring the child

with his promises of friendship with the Princes? I could not understand all his French words, but I saw it

"If he does, it must be across our dead bodies; but taken as we are by surprise, our resistance will little avail.

The Castle is full of French, the hall and court swarm with them. Even if we could draw our Normans

together, we should not be more than a dozen men, and what could we do but die? That we are ready for, if it

may not be otherwise, rather than let our charge be thus borne off without a pledge for his safety, and without

"No, just when Bernard the Dane is absent. If he only knew what has befallen, he could raise the country, and

"I know not," said Sir Eric, musingly. "The French have taken the keeping of the doors; indeed they are so

thick through the Castle that I can hardly reach one of our men, nor could I spare one hand that may avail to

"Sir Eric;" a bare little foot was heard on the floor, and Alberic de Montemar stood before him. "I did not

mean to listen, but I could not help hearing you. I cannot fight for the Duke yet, but I could carry a message."

"How would that be?" said Osmond, eagerly. "Once out of the Castle, and in Rouen, he could easily find

means of sending to the Count. He might go either to the Convent of St. Ouen, or, which would be better, to

the trusty armourer, Thibault, who would soon find man and horse to send after the Count."

"I know a way," said Alberic. "I scrambled down that wide buttress by the east wall last week, when our ball

"If Bernard knew, it would be off my mind, at least!" said Sir Eric. "Well, my young Frenchman, you may do

"Osmond," whispered Alberic, as he began hastily to dress himself, "only ask one thing of Sir Ericnever to

"Then," added Osmond, "if it were possible to get the Duke himself out of the castle tomorrow morning. If I

could take him forth by the postern, and once bring him into the town, he would be safe. It would be only to

raise the burghers, or else to take refuge in the Church of Our Lady till the Count came up, and then Louis

"That might be," replied Sir Eric; "but I doubt your success. The French are too eager to hold him fast, to let

"Yes, but all the French have not seen the Duke, and the sight of a squire and a little page going forth, will

"Ay, if the Duke would bear himself like a little page; but that you need not hope for. Besides, he is so taken

with this King's flatteries, that I doubt whether he would consent to leave him for the sake of Count Bernard.

The Baron de Centeville repeated his instructions, and then undertook to guard the door, while his son saw

Alberic set off on his expedition. Osmond went with him softly down the stairs, then avoiding the hall, which

was filled with French, they crept silently to a narrow window, guarded by iron bars, placed at such short

intervals apart that only so small and slim a form as Alberic's could have squeezed out between them. The

distance to the ground was not much more than twice his own height, and the wall was so covered with ivy,

that it was not a very dangerous feat for an active boy, so that Alberic was soon safe on the ground, then

looking up to wave his cap, he ran on along the side of the moat, and was soon lost to Osmond's sight in the

Osmond returned to the Duke's chamber, and relieved his father's guard, while Richard slept soundly on, little

guessing at the plots of his enemies, or at the schemes of his faithful subjects for his protection.

Osmond thought this all the better, for he had small trust in Richard's patience and selfcommand, and

thought there was much more chance of getting him unnoticed out of the Castle, if he did not know how

When Richard awoke, he was much surprised at missing Alberic, but Osmond said he was gone into the town

to Thibault the armourer, and this was a message on which he was so likely to be employed that Richard's

suspicion was not excited. All the time he was dressing he talked about the King, and everything he meant to

show him that day; then, when he was ready, the first thing was as usual to go to attend morning mass.

"Not by that way, today, my Lord," said Osmond, as Richard was about to enter the great hall. "It is

crowded with the French who have been sleeping there all night; come to the postern."

Osmond turned, as he spoke, along the passage, walking fast, and not sorry that Richard was lingering a little,

as it was safer for him to be first. The postern was, as he expected, guarded by two tall steelcased figures,

who immediately held their lances across the doorway, saying, "None passes without warrant."

"You will surely let us of the Castle attend to our daily business," said Osmond. "You will hardly break your

"You must bring warrant," repeated one of the menatarms. Osmond was beginning to say that he was the

son of the Seneschal of the Castle, when Richard came hastily up. "What? Do these men want to stop us?" he

exclaimed in the imperious manner he had begun to take up since his accession. "Let us go on, sirs."

The menatarms looked at each other, and guarded the door more closely. Osmond saw it was hopeless, and

only wanted to draw his young charge back without being recognised, but Richard exclaimed loudly, "What

"The King has given orders that none should pass without warrant," was Osmond's answer. "We must wait."

"I will pass!" said Richard, impatient at opposition, to which he was little accustomed. "What mean you,

Osmond? This is my Castle, and no one has a right to stop me. Do you hear, grooms? let me go. I am the

"I tell you I am Duke of Normandy, and I will go where I please in my own city!" exclaimed Richard,

passionately pressing against the crossed staves of the weapons, to force his way between them, but he was

caught and held fast in the powerful gauntlet of one of the men atarms. "Let me go, villain!" cried he,

Even as he spoke Osmond had disengaged him from the grasp of the Frenchman, and putting his hand on his

"I will strive!" cried the boy. "I will not have my way barred in my own Castle. I will tell the King how these

rogues of his use me. I will have them in the dungeon. Sir Eric! where is Sir Eric?"

Away he rushed to the stairs, Osmond hurrying after him, lest he should throw himself into some fresh

danger, or by his loud calls attract the French, who might then easily make him prisoner. However, on the

very first step of the stairs stood Sir Eric, who was too anxious for the success of the attempt to escape, to be

very far off. Richard, too angry to heed where he was going, dashed up against him without seeing him, and

as the old Baron took hold of him, began, "Sir Eric, Sir Eric, those French are villains! they will not let me

However imperious with others, Richard from force of habit always obeyed Sir Eric, and now allowed

himself to be dragged hastily and silently by him, Osmond following closely, up the stairs, up a second and a

third winding flight, still narrower, and with broken steps, to a small round, thickwalled turret chamber,

with an extremely small door, and loopholes of windows high up in the tower. Here, to his great surprise, he

found Dame Astrida, kneeling and telling her beads, two or three of her maidens, and about four of the

"But what is all this? How did Fru Astrida come up here? May I not go to the King and have those insolent

"Listen to me, Lord Richard," said Sir Eric: "that smoothspoken King whose words so charmed you last

night is an ungrateful deceiver. The Franks have always hated and feared the Normans, and not being able to

conquer us fairly, they now take to foul means. Louis came hither from Flanders, he has brought this great

troop of French to surprise us, claim you as a ward of the crown, and carry you away with him to some prison

"Not while I live," said Sir Eric. "Alberic is gone to warn the Count of Harcourt, to call the Normans

together, and here we are ready to defend this chamber to our last breath, but we are few, the French are

"And if I had not flown into a passion and told who I was, I might have been safe! O Sir Eric! Sir Eric! you

"Here, my child," said Dame Astrida, holding out her arms, "Sir Eric will do all he can for you, but we are in

Richard came and leant against her. "I wish I had not been in a passion!" said he, sadly, after a silence; then

"It is a long way for my old limbs," said Fru Astrida, smiling, "but my son helped me, and he deems it the

"Hark!" said Osmond, "what a tramping the Franks are making. They are beginning to wonder where the

"To the stairs, Osmond," said Sir Eric. "On that narrow step one man may keep them at bay a long time. You

"Perhaps they will think I am gone," whispered Richard, "if they cannot find me, and go away."

Osmond and two of the Normans were, as he spoke, taking their stand on the narrow spiral stair, where there

was just room for one man on the step. Osmond was the lowest, the other two above him, and it would have

Osmond could plainly hear the sounds of the steps and voices of the French as they consulted together, and

sought for the Duke. A man at length was heard clanking up these very stairs, till winding round, he suddenly

"My duty," answered Osmond, shortly. "I am here to guard this stair;" and his drawn sword expressed the

The Frenchman drew back, and presently a whispering below was heard, and soon after a voice came up the

"What would you say?" replied Osmond, and the head of another Frank appeared. "What means all this, my

friend?" was the address. "Our King comes as a guest to you, and you received him last evening as loyal

vassals. Wherefore have you now drawn out of the way, and striven to bear off your young Duke into secret

places? Truly it looks not well that you should thus strive to keep him apart, and therefore the King requires

"Sir Frenchman," replied Osmond, "your King claims the Duke as his ward. How that may be my father

knows not, but as he was committed to his charge by the states of Normandy, he holds himself bound to keep

"That means, insolent Norman, that you intend to shut the boy up and keep him in your own rebel hands. You

had best yieldit will be the better for you and for him. The child is the King's ward, and he shall not be left

At this moment a cry from without arose, so loud as almost to drown the voices of the speakers on the turret

stair, a cry welcome to the ears of Osmond, repeated by a multitude of voices, "Haro! Haro! our little Duke!"

It was well known as a Norman shout. So just and so ready to redress all grievances had the old Duke Rollo

been, that his very name was an appeal against injustice, and whenever wrong was done, the Norman outcry

against the injury was always "Ha Rollo!" or as it had become shortened, "Haro." And now Osmond knew

that those whose affection had been won by the uprightness of Rollo, were gathering to protect his helpless

The cry was likewise heard by the little garrison in the turret chamber, bringing hope and joy. Richard

thought himself already rescued, and springing from Fru Astrida, danced about in ecstasy, only longing to see

the faithful Normans, whose voices he heard ringing out again and again, in calls for their little Duke, and

outcries against the Franks. The windows were, however, so high, that nothing could be seen from them but

the sky; and, like Richard, the old Baron de Centeville was almost beside himself with anxiety to know what

force was gathered together, and what measures were being taken. He opened the door, called to his son, and

asked if he could tell what was passing, but Osmond knew as littlehe could see nothing but the black,

cobwebbed, dusty steps winding above his head, while the clamours outside, waxing fiercer and louder,

drowned all the sounds which might otherwise have come up to him from the French within the Castle. At

last, however, Osmond called out to his father, in Norse, "There is a Frank Baron come to entreat, and this

"Tell him," replied Sir Eric, "that save with consent of the council of Normandy, the child leaves not my

"He says," called back Osmond, after a moment, "that you shall guard him yourself, with as many as you

choose to bring with you. He declares on the faith of a free Baron, that the King has no thought of illhe

wants to show him to the Rouennais without, who are calling for him, and threaten to tear down the tower

"Answer him," returned the Baron, "that the Duke leaves not this chamber unless a pledge is put into our

hands for his safety. There was an oilytongued Count, who sat next the King at supperlet him come

Osmond gave the desired reply, which was carried to the King. Meantime the uproar outside grew louder than

ever, and there were new sounds, a horn was winded, and there was a shout of "Dieu aide!" the Norman

"There, there!" cried Sir Eric, with a long breath, as if relieved of half his anxieties, "the boy has sped well.

"Here comes the Count," said Osmond, opening the door, and admitting a stout, burly man, who seemed

sorely out of breath with the ascent of the steep, broken stair, and very little pleased to find himself in such a

situation. The Baron de Centeville augured well from the speed with which he had been sent, thinking it

proved great perplexity and distress on the part of Louis. Without waiting to hear his hostage speak, he

pointed to a chest on which he had been sitting, and bade two of his menatarms stand on each side of the

Count, saying at the same time to Fru Astrida, "Now, mother, if aught of evil befalls the child, you know your

Richard moved forward. Sir Eric held his hand. Osmond kept close behind him, and with as many of the

menatarms as could be spared from guarding Fru Astrida and her hostage, he descended the stairs, not by

any means sorry to go, for he was weary of being besieged in that turret chamber, whence he could see

He was conducted to the large councilroom which was above the hall. There, the King was walking up and

down anxiously, looking paler than his wont, and no wonder, for the uproar sounded tremendous thereand

Nearly at the same moment as Richard entered by one door, Count Bernard de Harcourt came in from the

"What means this, my Lords?" exclaimed the King. "Here am I come in all good will, in memory of my

warm friendship with Duke William, to take on me the care of his orphan, and hold council with you for

avenging his death, and is this the greeting you afford me? You steal away the child, and stir up the rascaille

"Sir King," replied Bernard, "what your intentions may be, I know not. All I do know is, that the burghers of

Rouen are fiercely incensed against youso much so, that they were almost ready to tear me to pieces for

being absent at this juncture. They say that you are keeping the child prisoner in his own Castle and that they

"You are a true man, a loyal manyou understand my good intentions," said Louis, trembling, for the

Normans were extremely dreaded. "You would not bring the shame of rebellion on your town and people.

"Take the child, lead him to the window, swear that you mean him no evil, that you will not take him from

"As a Kingas a Christian, it is true!" said Louis. "Here, my boy! Wherefore shrink from me? What have I

done, that you should fear me? You have been listening to evil tales of me, my child. Come hither."

At a sign from the Count de Harcourt, Sir Eric led Richard forward, and put his hand into the King's. Louis

took him to the window, lifted him upon the sill, and stood there with his arm round him, upon which the

shout, "Long live Richard, our little Duke!" arose again. Meantime, the two Centevilles looked in wonder at

the old Harcourt, who shook his head and muttered in his own tongue, "I will do all I may, but our force is

small, and the King has the best of it. We must not yet bring a war on ourselves."

"Fair Sirs!excellent burgesses!" began the King, as the cries lulled a little. {11} "I rejoice to see the love ye

bear to our young Prince! I would all my subjects were equally loyal! But wherefore dread me, as if I were

come to injure him? I, who came but to take counsel how to avenge the death of his father, who brought me

back from England when I was a friendless exile. Know ye not how deep is the debt of gratitude I owe to

Duke William? He it was who made me Kingit was he who gained me the love of the King of Germany;

he stood godfather for my sonto him I owe all my wealth and state, and all my care is to render guerdon

for it to his child, since, alas! I may not to himself. Duke William rests in his bloody grave! It is for me to call

So saying, Louis tenderly embraced the little boy, and the Rouennais below broke out into another cry, in

"Not without provision for his safety, but we are not fit for war as yet, and to let him go is the only means of

Eric groaned and shook his head; but the Count de Harcourt's judgment was of such weight with him, that he

"Bring me here," said the King, "all that you deem most holy, and you shall see me pledge myself to be your

There was some delay, during which the Norman Nobles had time for further counsel together, and Richard

looked wistfully at them, wondering what was to happen to him, and wishing he could venture to ask for

Several of the Clergy of the Cathedral presently appeared in procession, bringing with them the book of the

Gospels on which Richard had taken his installation oath, with others of the sacred treasures of the Church,

preserved in gold cases. The Priests were followed by a few of the Norman Knights and Nobles, some of the

burgesses of Rouen, and, to Richard's great joy, by Alberic de Montemar himself. The two boys stood

looking eagerly at each other, while preparation was made for the ceremony of the King's oath.

The stone table in the middle of the room was cleared, and arranged so as in some degree to resemble the

Altar in the Cathedral; then the Count de Harcourt, standing before it, and holding the King's hand, demanded

of him whether he would undertake to be the friend, protector, and good Lord of Richard, Duke of

Normandy, guarding him from all his enemies, and ever seeking his welfare. Louis, with his hand on the

"Amen!" returned Bernard the Dane, solemnly, "and as thou keepest that oath to the fatherless child, so may

Then followed the ceremony, which had been interrupted the night before, of the homage and oath of

allegiance which Richard owed to the King, and, on the other hand, the King's formal reception of him as a

vassal, holding, under him, the two dukedoms of Normandy and Brittany. "And," said the King, raising him

in his arms and kissing him, "no dearer vassal do I hold in all my realm than this fair child, son of my

murdered friend and benefactorprecious to me as my own children, as so on my Queen and I hope to

Richard did not much like all this embracing; but he was sure the King really meant him no ill, and he

"Now, brave Normans," said the King, "be ye ready speedily, for an onset on the traitor Fleming. The cause

of my ward is my own cause. Soon shall the trumpet be sounded, the ban and arriere ban of the realm be

called forth, and Arnulf, in the flames of his cities, and the blood of his vassals, shall learn to rue the day

when his foot trod the Isle of Pecquigny! How many Normans can you bring to the muster, Sir Count?"

"I cannot say, within a few hundreds of lances," replied the old Dane, cautiously; "it depends on the numbers

that may be engaged in the Italian war with the Saracens, but of this be sure, Sir King, that every man in

Normandy and Brittany who can draw a sword or bend a bow, will stand forth in the cause of our little Duke;

ay, and that his blessed father's memory is held so dear in our northern home, that it needs but a message to

King Harold Bluetooth to bring a fleet of long keels into the Seine, with stout Danes enough to carry fire

and sword, not merely through Flanders, but through all France. We of the North are not apt to forget old

"Yes, yes, I know the Norman faith of old," returned Louis, uneasily, "but we should scarcely need such wild

allies as you propose; the Count of Paris, and Hubert of Senlis may be reckoned on, I suppose."

"No truer friend to Normandy than gallant and wise old Hugh the White!" said Bernard, "and as to Senlis, he

"I rejoice to see your confidence," said Louis. "You shall soon hear from me. In the meantime I must return to

gather my force together, and summon my great vassals, and I will, with your leave, brave Normans, take

with me my dear young ward. His presence will plead better in his cause than the finest words; moreover, he

will grow up in love and friendship with my two boys, and shall be nurtured with them in all good learning

and chivalry, nor shall he ever be reminded that he is an orphan while under the care of Queen Gerberge and

"Let the child come to me, so please you, my Lord the King," answered Harcourt, bluntly. "I must hold some

"Go then, Richard," said Louis, "go to your trusty vassalhappy are you in possessing such a friend; I hope

"Here then, young Sir," said the Count, in his native tongue, when Richard had crossed from the King's side,

"The King is very kind," said Richard. "I am sure he is kind; but I do not like to go from Rouen, or from

"Listen, my Lord," said the Dane, stooping down and speaking low. "The King is resolved to have you away;

he has with him the best of his Franks, and has so taken us at unawares, that though I might yet rescue you

from his hands, it would not be without a fierce struggle, wherein you might be harmed, and this castle and

town certainly burnt, and wrested from us. A few weeks or months, and we shall have time to draw our force

together, so that Normandy need fear no man, and for that time you must tarry with him."

"No, not alone, not without the most trusty guardian that can be found for you. Friend Eric, what say you?"

and he laid his hand on the old Baron's shoulder. "Yet, I know not; true thou art, as a Norwegian mountain,

but I doubt me if thy brains are not too dull to see through the French wiles and disguises, sharp as thou didst

"That was Osmond, not I," said Sir Eric. "He knows their mincing tongue better than I. He were the best to go

"Bethink you, Eric," said the Count, in an undertone, "Osmond is the only hope of your good old houseif

"Since you think fit to peril the only hope of all Normandy, I am not the man to hold back my son where he

may aid him," said old Eric, sadly. "The poor child will be lonely and uncaredfor there, and it were hard he

"It is well," said Bernard: "young as he is, I had rather trust Osmond with the child than any one else, for he is

"Ay, and a pretty pass it is come to," muttered old Centeville, "that we, whose business it is to guard the boy,

Bernard paid no further attention to him, but, coming forward, required another oath from the King, that

Richard should be as safe and free at his court as at Rouen, and that on no pretence whatsoever should he be

taken from under the immediate care of his Esquire, Osmond Fitz Eric, heir of Centeville.

After this, the King was impatient to depart, and all was preparation. Bernard called Osmond aside to give

full instructions on his conduct, and the means of communicating with Normandy, and Richard was taking

leave of Fru Astrida, who had now descended from her turret, bringing her hostage with her. She wept much

over her little Duke, praying that he might safely be restored to Normandy, even though she might not live to

see it; she exhorted him not to forget the good and holy learning in which he had been brought up, to rule his

temper, and, above all, to say his prayers constantly, never leaving out one, as the beads of his rosary

reminded him of their order. As to her own grandson, anxiety for him seemed almost lost in her fears for

Richard, and the chief things she said to him, when he came to take leave of her, were directions as to the

care he was to take of the child, telling him the honour he now received was one which would make his name

forever esteemed if he did but fulfil his trust, the most precious that Norman had ever yet received.

"I will, grandmother, to the very best of my power," said Osmond; "I may die in his cause, but never will I be

"Yes, my Lord," answered Alberic, sturdily, "as glad as you will be to come back to Rouen."

"Then I shall send for you directly, Alberic, for I shall never love the Princes Carloman and Lothaire half as

"Farewell then, Fru Astrida. Do not weep. I shall soon come back. Farewell, Alberic. Take the bartailed

falcon back to Montemar, and keep him for my sake. Farewell, Sir EricFarewell, Count Bernard. When the

Normans come to conquer Arnulf you will lead them. O dear, dear Fru Astrida, farewell again."

"Farewell, my own darling. The blessing of Heaven go with you, and bring you safe home! Farewell,

Away from the tall narrow gateway of Rollo's Tower, with the cluster of friendly, sorrowful faces looking

forth from it, away from the boothlike shops of Rouen, and the stout burghers shouting with all the power of

their lungs, "Long live Duke Richard! Long live King Louis! Death to the Fleming!"away from the broad

Seineaway from home and friends, rode the young Duke of Normandy, by the side of the palfrey of the

The King took much notice of him, kept him by his side, talked to him, admired the beautiful cattle grazing in

security in the green pastures, and, as he looked at the rich dark brown earth of the fields, the Castles

towering above the woods, the Convents looking like great farms, the many villages round the rude Churches,

and the numerous population who came out to gaze at the party, and repeat the cry of "Long live the King!

Blessings on the little Duke!" he told Richard, again and again, that his was the most goodly duchy in France

When they crossed the Epte, the King would have Richard in the same boat with him, and sitting close to

Louis, and talking eagerly about falcons and hounds, the little Duke passed the boundary of his own

The country beyond was not like Normandy. First they came to a great forest, which seemed to have no path

through it. The King ordered that one of the men, who had rowed them across, should be made to serve as

guide, and two of the menatarms took him between them, and forced him to lead the way, while others,

with their swords and battleaxes, cut down and cleared away the tangled branches and briars that nearly

choked the path. All the time, every one was sharply on the lookout for robbers, and the weapons were all

held ready for use at a moment's notice. On getting beyond the forest a Castle rose before them, and, though

it was not yet late in the day, they resolved to rest there, as a marsh lay not far before them, which it would

The Baron of the Castle received them with great respect to the King, but without paying much attention to

the Duke of Normandy, and Richard did not find the second place left for him at the board. He coloured

violently, and looked first at the King, and then at Osmond, but Osmond held up his finger in warning; he

remembered how he had lost his temper before, and what had come of it, and resolved to try to bear it better;

and just then the Baron's daughter, a gentle looking maiden of fifteen or sixteen, came and spoke to him,

and entertained him so well, that he did not think much more of his offended dignity.When they set off on

their journey again, the Baron and several of his followers came with them to show the only safe way across

the morass, and a very slippery, treacherous, quaking road it was, where the horses' feet left pools of water

wherever they trod. The King and the Baron rode together, and the other French Nobles closed round them;

Richard was left quite in the background, and though the French menatarms took care not to lose sight of

him, no one offered him any assistance, excepting Osmond, who, giving his own horse to Sybald, one of the

two Norman grooms who accompanied him, led Richard's horse by the bridle along the whole distance of the

marshy path, a business that could scarcely have been pleasant, as Osmond wore his heavy hauberk, and his

pointed, ironguarded boots sunk deep at every step into the bog. He spoke little, but seemed to be taking

good heed of every stump of willow or steppingstone that might serve as a note of remembrance of the path.

At the other end of the morass began a long tract of drearylooking, heathy waste, without a sign of life. The

Baron took leave of the King, only sending three menatarms, to show him the way to a monastery, which

was to be the next haltingplace. He sent three, because it was not safe for one, even fully armed, to ride

alone, for fear of the attacks of the followers of a certain marauding Baron, who was at deadly feud with him,

and made all that border a most perilous region. Richard might well observe that he did not like the Vexin

half as well as Normandy, and that the people ought to learn Fru Astrida's story of the golden bracelets,

which, in his grandfather's time, had hung untouched for a year, in a tree in a forest.

It was pretty much the same through the whole journey, waste lands, marshes, and forests alternated. The

Castles stood on high mounds frowning on the country round, and villages were clustered round them, where

the people either fled away, driving off their cattle with them at the first sight of an armed band, or else, if

they remained, proved to be thin, wretchedlooking creatures, with wasted limbs, aguish faces, and often iron

collars round their necks. Wherever there was anything of more prosperous appearance, such as a few

cornfields, vineyards on the slopes of the hills, fat cattle, and peasantry looking healthy and secure, there was

sure to be seen a range of long low stone buildings, surmounted with crosses, with a short square Church

tower rising in the midst, and interspersed with gnarled hoary old appletrees, or with gardens of potherbs

spreading before them to the meadows. If, instead of two or three menatarms from a Castle, or of some

trembling serf pressed into the service, and beaten, threatened, and watched to prevent treachery, the King

asked for a guide at a Convent, some lay brother would take his staff; or else mount an ass, and proceed in

perfect confidence and security as to his return homewards, sure that his poverty and his sacred character

would alike protect him from any outrage from the most lawless marauder of the neighbourhood.

Thus they travelled until they reached the royal Castle of Laon, where the FleurdeLys standard on the

battlements announced the presence of Gerberge, Queen of France, and her two sons. The King rode first into

the court with his Nobles, and before Richard could follow him through the narrow arched gateway, he had

dismounted, entered the Castle, and was out of sight. Osmond held the Duke's stirrup, and followed him up

the steps which led to the Castle Hall. It was full of people, but no one made way, and Richard, holding his

"Sir Seneschal," said Osmond, seeing a broad portly old man, with grey hair and a golden chain, "this is the

Richard had no longer any cause to complain of neglect, for the Seneschal instantly made him a very low

bow, and calling "Place place for the high and mighty Prince, my Lord Duke of Normandy!" ushered him

up to the dais or raised part of the floor, where the King and Queen stood together talking. The Queen looked

round, as Richard was announced, and he saw her face, which was sallow, and with a sharp sour expression

that did not please him, and he backed and looked reluctant, while Osmond, with a warning hand pressed on

his shoulder, was trying to remind him that he ought to go forward, kneel on one knee, and kiss her hand.

"One thing secure!" said the Queen; "but what makes that northern giant keep close to his heels?"

Louis answered something in a low voice, and, in the meantime, Osmond tried in a whisper to induce his

"I tell you I will not," said Richard. "She looks cross, and I do not like her."

Luckily he spoke his own language; but his look and air expressed a good deal of what he said, and Gerberge

"A thorough little Norwegian bear," said the King; "fierce and unruly as the rest. Come, and perform your

Richard bowed, partly because Osmond forced down his shoulder; but he thought of old Rollo and Charles

the Simple, and his proud heart resolved that he would never kiss the hand of that sourlooking Queen. It was

a determination made in pride and defiance, and he suffered for it afterwards; but no more passed now, for

the Queen only saw in his behaviour that of an unmannerly young Northman: and though she disliked and

despised him, she did not care enough about his courtesy to insist on its being paid. She sat down, and so did

the King, and they went on talking; the King probably telling her his adventures at Rouen, while Richard

Nearly a quarter of an hour had passed in this manner when the servants came to set the table for supper, and

Richard, in spite of his indignant looks, was forced to stand aside. He wondered that all this time he had not

seen the two Princes, thinking how strange he should have thought it, to let his own dear father be in the

house so long without coming to welcome him. At last, just as the supper had been served up, a side door

opened, and the Seneschal called, "Place for the high and mighty Princes, my Lord Lothaire and my Lord

Carloman!" and in walked two boys, one about the same age as Richard, the other rather less than a year

younger. They were both thin, pale, sharpfeatured children, and Richard drew himself up to his full height,

They came up ceremoniously to their father and kissed his hand, while he kissed their foreheads, and then

"Is that the little Northman?" said Carloman, turning to stare at Richard with a look of curiosity, while

Richard in his turn felt considerably affronted that a boy so much less than himself should call him little.

Carloman stepped forward, shyly holding out his hand to the stranger, but his brother pushed him rudely

aside. "I am the eldest; it is my business to be first. So, young Northman, you are come here for us to play

Richard was too much amazed at being spoken to in this imperious way to make any answer. He was

completely taken by surprise, and only opened his great blue eyes to their utmost extent.

"Ha! why don't you answer? Don't you hear? Can you speak only your own heathen tongue?" continued

"The Norman is no heathen tongue!" said Richard, at once breaking silence in a loud voice. "We are as good

"What now, Sir Duke," again interfered the King, in an angry tone, "are you brawling already? Time, indeed,

I should take you from your own savage court. Sir Squire, look to it, that you keep your charge in better rule,

"My Lord, my Lord," whispered Osmond, "see you not that you are bringing discredit on all of us?"

"I would be courteous enough, if they would be courteous to me," returned Richard, gazing with eyes full of

defiance at Lothaire, who, returning an angry look, had nevertheless shrunk back to his mother. She

meanwhile was saying, "So strong, so rough, the young savage is, he will surely harm our poor boys!"

"Never fear," said Louis; "he shall be watched. And," he added in a lower tone, "for the present, at least, we

must keep up appearances. Hubert of Senlis, and Hugh of Paris, have their eyes on us, and were the boy to be

missed, the grim old Harcourt would have all the pirates of his land on us in the twinkling of an eye. We have

At supper, Richard sat next little Carloman, who peeped at him every now and then from under his eyelashes,

as if he was afraid of him; and presently, when there was a good deal of talking going on, so that his voice

could not be heard, half whispered, in a very grave tone, "Do you like salt beef or fresh?"

"I like fresh," answered Richard, with equal gravity, "only we eat salt all the winter."

There was another silence, and then Carloman, with the same solemnity, asked, "How old are you?"

Another silence; then, as Osmond waited on Richard, Carloman returned to the charge, "Is that your Squire?"

"Yes; but" and Carloman sunk his voice"there are some things which Lothaire will not hear said. Do not

make him cross, or he will make my mother displeased with you. She caused Thierry de Lincourt to be

"She cannot scourge meI am a free Duke," said Richard. "But why? Did he do it on purpose?"

"Well, but did he not laugh, and say it was nothing? Alberic quite knocked me down with a great snowball

"Ah! you are but a little boy," said Richard, in a superior manner. Carloman asked how it was done; and

Richard gave an animated description of the snowballing, a fortnight ago, at Rouen, when Osmond and some

of the other young men built a snow fortress, and defended it against Richard, Alberic, and the other Squires.

Carloman listened with delight, and declared that next time it snowed, they would have a snow castle; and

Bedtime came not long after supper. Richard's was a smaller room than he had been used to at Rouen; but it

amazed him exceedingly when he first went into it: he stood gazing in wonder, because, as he said, "It was as

"Yes, truly!" said Osmond. "No wonder these poor creatures of French cannot stand before a Norman lance,

if they cannot sleep without glass to their windows. Well! what would my father say to this?"

"And see! see, Osmond! they have put hangings up all round the walls, just like our Lady's church on a great

feastday. They treat us just as if we were the holy saints; and here are fresh rushes strewn about the floor,

"No, no, my Lord; here is our gear, which I bade Sybald and Henry see bestowed in our chamber. Well, these

Franks are come to a pass, indeed! My grandmother will never believe what we shall have to tell her. Glass

windows and hangings to sleeping chambers! I do not like it I am sure we shall never be able to sleep, closed

up from the free air of heaven in this way: I shall be always waking, and fancying I am in the chapel at home,

hearing Father Lucas chanting his matins. Besides, my father would blame me for letting you be made as

Luxurious as the young Norman thought the King, the glazing of Laon was not permanent. It consisted of

casements, which could be put up or removed at pleasure; for, as the court possessed only one set of glass

windows, they were taken down, and carried from place to place, as often as Louis removed from Rheims to

Soissons, Laon, or any other of his royal castles; so that Osmond did not find much difficulty in displacing

them, and letting in the sharp, cold, wintry breeze. The next thing he did was to give his young Lord a lecture

on his want of courtesy, telling him that "no wonder the Franks thought he had no more culture than a Viking

(or pirate), fresh caught from Norway. A fine notion he was giving them of the training he had at Centeville,

if he could not even show common civility to the Queena lady! Was that the way Alberic had behaved

"Fru Astrida did not make sour faces at him, nor call him a young savage," replied Richard.

"No, and he gave her no reason to do so; he knew that the first teaching of a young Knight is to be courteous

to ladiesnever mind whether fair and young, or old and foul of favour. Till you learn and note that, Lord

"And the King told me she would treat me as a mother," exclaimed Richard. "Do you think the King speaks

"He was very kind while we were in Normandy. I loved him so much better than the Count de Harcourt; but

now I think that the Count is best! I'll tell you, Osmond, I will never call him grim old Bernard again."

"Well, I wish we were back in Normandy, with Fru Astrida and Alberic. I cannot bear that Lothaire. He is

"And Carloman is a chickenheart," continued Richard, unheeding. "He does not like to touch snow, and he

cannot even slide on the ice, and he is afraid to go near that great dogthat beautiful wolfhound."

"I am sure I was not as cowardly at his age, now was I, Osmond? Don't you remember?"

"Come, Lord Richard, I cannot let you wait to remember everything; tell your beads and pray that we may be

brought safe back to Rouen; and that you may not forget all the good that Father Lucas and holy Abbot

So Richard told the beads of his rosaryblack polished wood, with amber at certain spaceshe repeated a

prayer with every bead, and Osmond did the same; then the little Duke put himself into a narrow crib of

richly carved walnut; while Osmond, having stuck his dagger so as to form an additional bolt to secure the

door, and examined the hangings that no secret entrance might be concealed behind them, gathered a heap of

rushes together, and lay down on them, wrapped in his mantle, across the doorway. The Duke was soon

asleep; but the Squire lay long awake, musing on the possible dangers that surrounded his charge, and on the

Osmond de Centeville was soon convinced that no immediate peril threatened his young Duke at the Court of

Laon. Louis seemed to intend to fulfil his oaths to the Normans by allowing the child to be the companion of

his own sons, and to be treated in every respect as became his rank. Richard had his proper place at table, and

all due attendance; he learnt, rode, and played with the Princes, and there was nothing to complain of,

excepting the coldness and inattention with which the King and Queen treated him, by no means fulfilling the

promise of being as parents to their orphan ward. Gerberge, who had from the first dreaded his superior

strength and his roughness with her puny boys, and who had been by no means won by his manners at their

first meeting, was especially distant and severe with him, hardly ever speaking to him except with some

As to the boys, his constant companions, Richard was on very friendly terms with Carloman, a gentle, timid,

weakly child. Richard looked down upon him; but he was kind, as a generoustempered boy could not fail to

be, to one younger and weaker than himself. He was so much kinder than Lothaire, that Carloman was fast

growing very fond of him, and looked up to his strength and courage as something noble and marvellous.

It was very different with Lothaire, the person from whom, above all others, Richard would have most

expected to meet with affection, as his father's godson, a relationship which in those times was thought

almost as near as kindred by blood. Lothaire had been brought up by an indulgent mother, and by courtiers

who never ceased flattering him, as the heir to the crown, and he had learnt to think that to give way to his

naturally imperious and violent disposition was the way to prove his power and assert his rank. He had

always had his own way, and nothing had ever been done to check his faults; somewhat weakly health had

made him fretful and timid; and a latent consciousness of this fearfulness made him all the more cruel,

He treated his little brother in a way which in these times boys would call bullying; and, as no one ever dared

to oppose the King's eldest son, it was pretty much the same with every one else, except now and then some

dumb creature, and then all Lothaire's cruelty was shown. When his horse kicked, and ended by throwing

him, he stood by, and caused it to be beaten till the poor creature's back streamed with blood; when his dog

bit his hand in trying to seize the meat with which he was teazing it, he insisted on having it killed, and it was

worse still when a falcon pecked one of his fingers. It really hurt him a good deal, and, in a furious rage, he

caused two nails to be heated red hot in the fire, intending to have them thrust into the poor bird's eyes.

"I will not have it done!" exclaimed Richard, expecting to be obeyed as he was at home; but Lothaire only

"I will not have it done!" repeated Richard. "Shame on you, shame on you, for thinking of such an unkingly

"Shame on me! Do you know to whom you speak, master savage?" cried Lothaire, red with passion.

"I know who is the savage now!" said Richard. "Hold!" to the servant who was bringing the redhot irons in

"Hold?" exclaimed Lothaire. "No one commands here but I and my father. Go on Charlotwhere is the

"Come away, my Lord," said Osmond, interrupting Richard's order, before it was issued. "We have no right

"Shame on you too, Osmond, to let such a deed be done without hindering it!" exclaimed Richard, breaking

from him, and rushing on the man who carried the hot irons. The French servants were not very willing to

exert their strength against the Duke of Normandy, and Richard's onset, taking the man by surprise, made him

drop the tongs. Lothaire, both afraid and enraged, caught them up as a weapon of defence, and, hardly

knowing what he did, struck full at Richard's face with the hot iron. Happily it missed his eye, and the heat

had a little abated; but, as it touched his cheek, it burnt him sufficiently to cause considerable pain. With a cry

of passion, he flew at Lothaire, shook him with all his might, and ended by throwing him at his length on the

pavement. But this was the last of Richard's exploits, for he was at the same moment captured by his Squire,

and borne off, struggling and kicking as if Osmond had been his greatest foe; but the young Norman's arms

were like iron round him; and he gave over his resistance sooner, because at that moment a whirring flapping

sound was heard, and the poor hawk rose high, higher, over their heads in ever lessening circles, far away

from her enemies. The servant who held her, had relaxed his grasp in the consternation caused by Lothaire's

fall, and she was mounting up and up, spying, it might be, her way to her native rocks in Iceland, with the

"Safe! safe!" cried Richard, joyfully, ceasing his struggles. "Oh, how glad I am! That young villain should

"Saving you from yourno, I cannot call it folly,I would hardly have had you stand still to see suchbut

"It is nothing. I don't care now the hawk is safe," said Richard, though he could hardly keep his lips in order,

and was obliged to wink very hard with his eyes to keep the tears out, now that he had leisure to feel the

smarting; but it would have been far beneath a Northman to complain, and he stood bearing it gallantly, and

pinching his fingers tightly together, while Osmond knelt down to examine the hurt. "'Tis not much," said he,

talking to himself, "half bruise, half burnI wish my grandmother was herehowever, it can't last long!

'Tis right, you bear it like a little Berserkar, and it is no bad thing that you should have a scar to show, that

"Will it always leave a mark?" said Richard. "I am afraid they will call me Richard of the scarred cheek,

"Never mind, if they doit will not be a mark to be ashamed of, even if it does last, which I do not believe it

"Oh, no, I am so glad the gallant falcon is out of his reach!" replied Richard, in a somewhat quivering voice.

"Does it smart much? Well, come and bathe it with cold wateror shall I take you to one of the Queen's

"Nothe water," said Richard, and to the fountain in the court they went; but Osmond had only just begun to

splash the cheek with the halffrozen water, with a sort of rough kindness, afraid at once of teaching the

Duke to be effeminate, and of not being as tender to him as Dame Astrida would have wished, when a

messenger came in haste from the King, commanding the presence of the Duke of Normandy and his Squire.

Lothaire was standing between his father and mother on their throne like seat, leaning against the Queen,

who had her arm round him; his face was red and glazed with tears, and he still shook with subsiding sobs. It

"How is this?" began the King, as Richard entered. "What means this conduct, my Lord of Normandy? Know

you what you have done in striking the heir of France? I might imprison you this instant in a dungeon where

"Then Bernard de Harcourt would come and set me free," fearlessly answered Richard.

"Do you bandy words with me, child? Ask Prince Lothaire's pardon instantly, or you shall rue it."

"I have done nothing to ask his pardon for. It would have been cruel and cowardly in me to let him put out the

poor hawk's eyes," said Richard, with a Northman's stern contempt for pain, disdaining to mention his own

"Hawk's eyes!" repeated the King. "Speak the truth, Sir Duke; do not add slander to your other faults."

"I have spoken the truthI always speak it!" cried Richard. "Whoever says otherwise lies in his throat."

Osmond here hastily interfered, and desired permission to tell the whole story. The hawk was a valuable bird,

and Louis's face darkened when he heard what Lothaire had purposed, for the Prince had, in telling his own

story, made it appear that Richard had been the aggressor by insisting on letting the falcon fly. Osmond

finished by pointing to the mark on Richard's cheek, so evidently a burn, as to be proof that hot iron had

played a part in the matter. The King looked at one of his own Squires and asked his account, and he with

some hesitation could not but reply that it was as the young Sieur de Centeville had said. Thereupon Louis

angrily reproved his own people for having assisted the Prince in trying to injure the hawk, called for the

chief falconer, rated him for not better attending to his birds, and went forth with him to see if the hawk could

"So you have escaped for this once," said Gerberge, coldly, to Richard; "you had better beware another time.

Come with me, my poor darling Lothaire." She led her son away to her own apartments, and the French

Squires began to grumble to each other complaints of the impossibility of pleasing their Lords, since, if they

contradicted Prince Lothaire, he was so spiteful that he was sure to set the Queen against them, and that was

far worse in the end than the King's displeasure. Osmond, in the meantime, took Richard to recommence

bathing his face, and presently Carloman ran out to pity him, wonder at him for not crying, and say he was

The cheek continued inflamed and painful for some time, and there was a deep scar long after the pain had

ceased, but Richard thought little of it after the first, and would have scorned to bear illwill to Lothaire for

Lothaire left off taunting Richard with his Norman accent, and calling him a young Seaking. He had felt his

strength, and was afraid of him; but he did not like him the betterhe never played with him

willinglyscowled, and looked dark and jealous, if his father, or if any of the great nobles took the least

notice of the little Duke, and whenever he was out of hearing, talked against him with all his natural

Richard liked Lothaire quite as little, contemning almost equally his cowardly ways and his imperious

disposition. Since he had been Duke, Richard had been somewhat inclined to grow imperious himself, though

always kept under restraint by Fru Astrida's good training, and Count Bernard's authority, and his whole

generous nature would have revolted against treating Alberic, or indeed his meanest vassal, as Lothaire used

the unfortunate children who were his playfellows. Perhaps this made him look on with great horror at the

tyranny which Lothaire exercised; at any rate he learnt to abhor it more, and to make many resolutions

against ordering people about uncivilly when once he should be in Normandy again. He often interfered to

protect the poor boys, and generally with success, for the Prince was afraid of provoking such another shake

as Richard had once given him, and though he generally repaid himself on his victim in the end, he yielded

Carloman, whom Richard often saved from his brother's unkindness, clung closer and closer to him, went

with him everywhere, tried to do all he did, grew very fond of Osmond, and liked nothing better than to sit by

Richard in some wide windowseat, in the evening, after supper, and listen to Richard's version of some of

Fru Astrida's favourite tales, or hear the neverending history of sports at Centeville, or at Rollo's Tower, or

settle what great things they would both do when they were grown up, and Richard was ruling

Normandyperhaps go to the Holy Land together, and slaughter an unheardof host of giants and dragons

on the way. In the meantime, however, poor Carloman gave small promise of being able to perform great

exploits, for he was very small for his age and often ailing; soon tired, and never able to bear much rough

play. Richard, who had never had any reason to learn to forbear, did not at first understand this, and made

Carloman cry several times with his roughness and violence, but this always vexed him so much that he grew

careful to avoid such things for the future, and gradually learnt to treat his poor little weakly friend with a

gentleness and patience at which Osmond used to marvel, and which he would hardly have been taught in his

Between Carloman and Osmond he was thus tolerably happy at Laon, but he missed his own dear friends,

and the loving greetings of his vassals, and longed earnestly to be at Rouen, asking Osmond almost every

night when they should go back, to which Osmond could only answer that he must pray that Heaven would

Osmond, in the meantime, kept a vigilant watch for anything that might seem to threaten danger to his Lord;

but at present there was no token of any evil being intended; the only point in which Louis did not seem to be

fulfilling his promises to the Normans was, that no preparations were made for attacking the Count of

At Easter the court was visited by Hugh the White, the great Count of Paris, the most powerful man in

France, and who was only prevented by his own loyalty and forbearance, from taking the crown from the

feeble and degenerate race of Charlemagne. He had been a firm friend of William Longsword, and Osmond

remarked how, on his arrival, the King took care to bring Richard forward, talk of him affectionately, and

caress him almost as much as he had done at Rouen. The Count himself was really kind and affectionate to

the little Duke; he kept him by his side, and seemed to like to stroke down his long flaxen hair, looking in his

face with a grave mournful expression, as if seeking for a likeness to his father. He soon asked about the scar

which the burn had left, and the King was obliged to answer hastily, it was an accident, a disaster that had

chanced in a boyish quarrel. Louis, in fact, was uneasy, and appeared to be watching the Count of Paris the

whole time of his visit, so as to prevent him from having any conversation in private with the other great

vassals assembled at the court. Hugh did not seem to perceive this, and acted as if he was entirely at his ease,

but at the same time he watched his opportunity. One evening, after supper, he came up to the window where

Richard and Carloman were, as usual, deep in story telling; he sat down on the stone seat, and taking Richard

How Richard's face lighted up! "Oh, Sir," he cried, "are you going to Normandy?"

"Not yet, my boy, but it may be that I may have to meet old Harcourt at the Elm of Gisors."

"I wish I could take you, but it would scarcely do for me to steal the heir of Normandy. What shall I tell

"Tell him," whispered Richard, edging himself close to the Count, and trying to reach his ear, "tell him that I

am sorry, now, that I was sullen when he reproved me. I know he was right. And, sir, if he brings with him a

certain huntsman with a long hooked nose, whose name is Walter, {12} tell him I am sorry I used to order

him about so unkindly. And tell him to bear my greetings to Fru Astrida and Sir Eric, and to Alberic."

"No," said Richard, "he would think me a baby to care about such a thing as that!"

The Count asked how it happened, and Richard told the story, for he felt as if he could tell the kind Count

anythingit was almost like that last evening that he had sat on his father's knee. Hugh ended by putting his

arm round him, and saying, "Well, my little Duke, I am as glad as you are the gallant bird is safeit will be a

tale for my own little Hugh and Eumacette {13} at homeand you must one day be friends with them as

your father has been with me. And now, do you think your Squire could come to my chamber late this

Richard undertook that Osmond should do so, and the Count, setting him down again, returned to the dais.

Osmond, before going to the Count that evening, ordered Sybald to come and guard the Duke's door. It was a

long conference, for Hugh had come to Laon chiefly for the purpose of seeing how it went with his friend's

son, and was anxious to know what Osmond thought of the matter. They agreed that at present there did not

seem to be any evil intended, and that it rather appeared as if Louis wished only to keep him as a hostage for

the tranquillity of the borders of Normandy; but Hugh advised that Osmond should maintain a careful watch,

The next morning the Count of Paris quitted Laon, and everything went on in the usual course till the feast of

Whitsuntide, when there was always a great display of splendour at the French court. The crown vassals

generally came to pay their duty and go with the King to Church; and there was a state banquet, at which the

King and Queen wore their crowns, and every one sat in great magnificence according to their rank.

The grand procession to Church was over. Richard had walked with Carloman, the Prince richly dressed in

blue, embroidered with golden fleurdelys, and Richard in scarlet, with a gold Cross on his breast; the

beautiful service was over, they had returned to the Castle, and there the Seneschal was marshalling the

goodly and noble company to the banquet, when horses' feet were heard at the gate announcing some fresh

arrival. The Seneschal went to receive the guests, and presently was heard ushering in the noble Prince,

Richard's face became palehe turned from Carloman by whose side he had been standing, and walked

straight out of the hall and up the stairs, closely followed by Osmond. In a few minutes there was a knock at

the door of his chamber, and a French Knight stood there saying, "Comes not the Duke to the banquet?"

"The King will take it amiss; for the sake of the child you had better beware," said the Frenchman, hesitating.

"He had better beware himself," exclaimed Osmond, indignantly, "how he brings the treacherous murderer of

William Longsword into the presence of a freeborn Norman, unless he would see him slain where he stands.

Were it not for the boy, I would challenge the traitor this instant to single combat."

"Well, I can scarce blame you," said the Knight, "but you had best have a care how you tread. Farewell."

Richard had hardly time to express his indignation, and his wishes that he was a man, before another message

came through a groom of Lothaire's train, that the Duke must fast, if he would not consent to feast with the

"Tell Prince Lothaire," replied Richard, "that I am not such a glutton as heI had rather fast than be choked

All the rest of the day, Richard remained in his own chamber, resolved not to run the risk of meeting with

Arnulf. The Squire remained with him, in this voluntary imprisonment, and they occupied themselves, as best

they could, with furbishing Osmond's armour, and helping each other out in repeating some of the Sagas.

They once heard a great uproar in the court, and both were very anxious to learn its cause, but they did not

Carloman crept up to them"Here I am at last!" he exclaimed. "Here, Richard, I have brought you some

bread, as you had no dinner: it was all I could bring. I saved it under the table lest Lothaire should see it."

Richard thanked Carloman with all his heart, and being very hungry was glad to share the bread with

Osmond. He asked how long the wicked Count was going to stay, and rejoiced to hear he was going away the

Richard, however, begged to hear, and Carloman was obliged to tell that the two Norman grooms, Sybald and

Henry, had quarrelled with the Flemings of Arnulf's train; there had been a fray, which had ended in the death

of three Flemings, a Frank, and of Sybald himselfAnd where was Henry? Alas! there was more ill

Dark with anger and sorrow grew young Richard's face; he had been fond of his two Norman attendants, he

trusted to their attachment, and he would have wept for their loss even if it had happened in any other way;

but now, when it had been caused by their enmity to his father's foes, the Flemings,when one had fallen

overwhelmed by numbers, and the other been condemned hastily, cruelly, unjustly, it was too much, and he

almost choked with grief and indignation. Why had he not been there, to claim Henry as his own vassal, and

if he could not save him, at least bid him farewell? Then he would have broken out in angry threats, but he

felt his own helplessness, and was ashamed, and he could only shed tears of passionate grief, refusing all

Carloman's attempts to comfort him. Osmond was even more concerned; he valued the two Normans

extremely for their courage and faithfulness, and had relied on sending intelligence by their means to Rouen,

in case of need. It appeared to him as if the first opportunity had been seized of removing these protectors

from the little Duke, and as if the designs, whatever they might be, which had been formed against him, were

about to take effect. He had little doubt that his own turn would be the next; but he was resolved to endure

anything, rather than give the smallest opportunity of removing him, to bear even insults with patience, and to

That danger was fast gathering around them became more evident every day, especially after the King and

Arnulf had gone away together. It was very hot weather, and Richard began to weary after the broad cool

river at Rouen, where he used to bathe last summer; and one evening he persuaded his Squire to go down

with him to the Oise, which flowed along some meadow ground about a quarter of a mile from the Castle; but

they had hardly set forth before three or four attendants came running after them, with express orders from

the Queen that they should return immediately. They obeyed, and found her standing in the Castle hall,

"What means this?" she asked, angrily. "Knew you not that the King has left commands that the Duke quits

"I was only going as far as the river" began Richard, but Gerberge cut him short. "Silence, childI will

hear no excuses. Perhaps you think, Sieur de Centeville, that you may take liberties in the King's absence, but

I tell you that if you are found without the walls again, it shall be at your peril; ay, and his! I'll have those

She turned away, and Lothaire looked at them with his air of gratified malice. "You will not lord it over your

betters much longer, young pirate!" said he, as he followed his mother, afraid to stay to meet the anger he

might have excited by the taunt he could not deny himself the pleasure of making; but Richard, who, six

months ago could not brook a slight disappointment or opposition, had, in his present life of restraint, danger,

and vexation, learnt to curb the first outbreak of temper, and to bear patiently instead of breaking out into

"Oh, Osmond! Osmond!" he exclaimed, "they shall not hurt you. I will never go out again. I will never speak

another hasty word. I will never affront the Prince, if they will but leave you with me!"

It was a fine summer evening, and Richard and Carloman were playing at ball on the steps of the Castlegate,

when a voice was heard from beneath, begging for alms from the noble Princes in the name of the blessed

Virgin, and the two boys saw a pilgrim standing at the gate, wrapt in a long robe of serge, with a staff in his

hand, surmounted by a Cross, a scrip at his girdle, and a broad shady hat, which he had taken off, as he stood,

"Come in, holy pilgrim," said Carloman. "It is late, and you shall sup and rest here tonight."

"Blessings from Heaven light on you, noble Prince," replied the pilgrim, and at that moment Richard shouted

joyfully, "A Norman, a Norman! 'tis my own dear speech! Oh, are you not from Normandy? Osmond,

"My Lord! my own Lord!" exclaimed the pilgrim, and, kneeling on one knee at the foot of the steps, he

"Walter!Walter, the huntsman!" cried Richard. "Is it you? Oh, how is Fru Astrida, and all at home?"

"Well, my Lord, and wearying to know how it is with you" began Walterbut a very different tone

exclaimed from behind the pilgrim, "What is all this? Who is stopping my way? What! Richard would be

King, and more, would he? More insolence!" It was Lothaire, returning with his attendants from the chase, in

"A Norman, is he? I thought we had got rid of the robbers! We want no robbers here! Scourge him soundly,

"I care not; I'll have no Normans here, coming spying in disguise. Scourge him, I say, dog that he is! Away

"No Norman is scourged in my sight!" said Richard, darting forwards, and throwing himself between Walter

and the woodsman, who was preparing to obey Lothaire, just in time to receive on his own bare neck the

sharp, cutting leathern thong, which raised a long red streak along its course. Lothaire laughed.

"My Lord Duke! What have you done? Oh, leave methis befits you not!" cried Walter, extremely

distressed; but Richard had caught hold of the whip, and called out, "Away, away! run! haste, haste!" and the

words were repeated at once by Osmond, Carloman, and many of the French, who, though afraid to disobey

the Prince, were unwilling to violate the sanctity of a pilgrim's person; and the Norman, seeing there was no

help for it, obeyed: the French made way for him and he effected his escape; while Lothaire, after a great deal

of storming and raging, went up to his mother to triumph in the cleverness with which he had detected a

Lothaire was not far wrong; Walter had really come to satisfy himself as to the safety of the little Duke, and

try to gain an interview with Osmond. In the latter purpose he failed, though he lingered in the

neighbourhood of Laon for several days; for Osmond never left the Duke for an instant, and he was, as has

been shown, a close prisoner, in all but the name, within the walls of the Castle. The pilgrim had, however,

the opportunity of picking up tidings which made him perceive the true state of things: he learnt the deaths of

Sybald and Henry, the alliance between the King and Arnulf, and the restraint and harshness with which the

Soon after his arrival, a three days' fast was observed throughout the dukedom, and in every church, from the

Cathedral of Bayeux to the smallest and rudest village shrine, crowds of worshippers were kneeling,

imploring, many of them with tears, that God would look on them in His mercy, restore to them their Prince,

and deliver the child out of the hands of his enemies. How earnest and sorrowful were the prayers offered at

Centeville may well be imagined; and at Montemar sur Epte the anxiety was scarcely less. Indeed, from the

time the evil tidings arrived, Alberic grew so restless and unhappy, and so anxious to do something, that at

last his mother set out with him on a pilgrimage to the Abbey of Jumieges, to pray for the rescue of his dear

In the meantime, Louis had sent notice to Laon that he should return home in a week's time; and Richard

rejoiced at the prospect, for the King had always been less unkind to him than the Queen, and he hoped to be

released from his captivity within the Castle. Just at this time he became very unwell; it might have been only

the effect of the life of unwonted confinement which he had lately led that was beginning to tell on his health;

but, after being heavy and uncomfortable for a day or two, without knowing what was the matter with him, he

Osmond was dreadfully alarmed, knowing nothing at all of the treatment of illness, and, what was worse,

fully persuaded that the poor child had been poisoned, and therefore resolved not to call any assistance; he

hung over him all night, expecting each moment to see him expireready to tear his hair with despair and

fury, and yet obliged to restrain himself to the utmost quietness and gentleness, to soothe the suffering of the

Through that night, Richard either tossed about on his narrow bed, or, when his restlessness desired the

change, sat, leaning his aching head on Osmond's breast, too oppressed and miserable to speak or think.

When the day dawned on them, and he was still too ill to leave the room, messengers were sent for him, and

Osmond could no longer conceal the fact of his sickness, but parleyed at the door, keeping out every one he

could, and refusing all offers of attendance. He would not even admit Carloman, though Richard, hearing his

voice, begged to see him; and when a proposal was sent from the Queen, that a skilful old nurse should visit

and prescribe for the patient, he refused with all his might, and when he had shut the door, walked up and

All that day and the next, Richard continued very ill, and Osmond waited on him very assiduously, never

closing his eyes for a moment, but constantly telling his beads whenever the boy did not require his

attendance. At last Richard fell asleep, slept long and soundly for some hours, and waked much better.

Osmond was in a transport of joy: "Thanks to Heaven, they shall fail for this time and they shall never have

another chance! May Heaven be with us still!" Richard was too weak and weary to ask what he meant, and

for the next few days Osmond watched him with the utmost care. As for food, now that Richard could eat

again, Osmond would not hear of his touching what was sent for him from the royal table, but always went

down himself to procure food in the kitchen, where he said he had a friend among the cooks, who would, he

thought, scarcely poison him intentionally. When Richard was able to cross the room, he insisted on his

always fastening the door with his dagger, and never opening to any summons but his own, not even Prince

Carloman's. Richard wondered, but he was obliged to obey; and he knew enough of the perils around him to

Thus several days had passed, the King had returned, and Richard was so much recovered, that he had

become very anxious to be allowed to go down stairs again, instead of remaining shut up there; but still

Osmond would not consent, though Richard had done nothing all day but walk round the room, to show how

"Now, my Lord, guard the doortake care," said Osmond; "you have no loss today, for the King has

brought home Herluin of Montreuil, whom you would be almost as loth to meet as the Fleming. And tell your

Osmond was absent nearly half an hour, and, when he returned, brought on his shoulders a huge bundle of

straw. "What is this for?" exclaimed Richard. "I wanted my supper, and you have brought straw!"

"Here is your supper," said Osmond, throwing down the straw, and producing a bag with some bread and

meat. "What should you say, my Lord, if we should sup in Normandy tomorrow night?"

"In Normandy!" cried Richard, springing up and clapping his hands. "In Normandy! Oh, Osmond, did you

say in Normandy? Shall we, shall we really? Oh, joy! joy! Is Count Bernard come? Will the King let us go?"

"Hush! hush, sir! It must be our own doing; it will all fail if you are not silent and prudent, and we shall be

"But what are you going to do? I will not be as foolish as I was when you tried to get me safe out of Rollo's

"That must not be," said Osmond; "we should not have time to escape, if they did not still believe you very ill

"I am sorry not to wish Carloman goodbye," repeated Richard; "but we shall see Fru Astrida again, and Sir

Richard could hardly eat for excitement, while Osmond hastily made his arrangements, girding on his sword,

and giving Richard his dagger to put into his belt. He placed the remainder of the provisions in his wallet,

threw a thick purple cloth mantle over the Duke, and then desired him to lie down on the straw which he had

brought in. "I shall hide you in it," he said, "and carry you through the hall, as if I was going to feed my

"Oh, they will never guess!" cried Richard, laughing. "I will be quite stillI will make no noiseI will hold

"Yes, mind you do not move hand or foot, or rustle the straw. It is no playit is life or death," said Osmond,

"Entirely. Now, remember, whatever happens, do not move. May Heaven protect us! Now, the Saints be with

Richard, from the interior of the bundle heard Osmond set open the door; then he felt himself raised from the

ground; Osmond was carrying him along down the stairs, the ends of the straw crushing and sweeping against

the wall. The only way to the outer door was through the hall, and here was the danger. Richard heard voices,

steps, loud singing and laughter, as if feasting was going on; then some one said, "Tending your horse, Sieur

"Yes," Osmond made answer. "You know, since we lost our grooms, the poor black would come off badly,

"Oh, I wish he was well! And when will you let me come to him, Osmond? Indeed, I would sit quiet, and not

"It may not be yet, my Lord, though the Duke loves you wellhe told me so but now."

"Did he? Oh, tell him I love him very muchbetter than any one hereand it is very dull without him. Tell

Richard could hardly help calling out to his dear little Carloman; but he remembered the peril of Osmond's

eyes and the Queen's threat, and held his peace, with some vague notion that some day he would make

Carloman King of France. In the meantime, half stifled with the straw, he felt himself carried on, down the

steps, across the court; and then he knew, from the darkness and the changed sound of Osmond's tread, that

they were in the stable. Osmond laid him carefully down, and whispered"All right so far. You can

"Not yetnot for worlds. Now tell me if I put you face downwards, for I cannot see."

He laid the living heap of straw across the saddle, bound it on, then led out the horse, gazing round cautiously

as he did so; but the whole of the people of the Castle were feasting, and there was no one to watch the gates.

Richard heard the hollow sound of the hoofs, as the drawbridge was crossed, and knew that he was free; but

still Osmond held his arm over him, and would not let him move, for some distance. Then, just as Richard

felt as if he could endure the stifling of the straw, and his uncomfortable position, not a moment longer,

Osmond stopped the horse, took him down, laid him on the grass, and released him. He gazed around; they

were in a little wood; evening twilight was just coming on, and the birds sang sweetly.

"Free! free!this is freedom!" cried Richard, leaping up in the delicious cool evening breeze; "the Queen

"Not so far yet," said Osmond; "you must not call yourself safe till the Epte is between us and them. Into the

Osmond helped the Duke to mount, and sprang to the saddle behind him, set spurs to the horse, and rode on

at a quick rate, though not at full speed, as he wished to spare the horse. The twilight faded, the stars came

out, and still he rode, his arm round the child, who, as night advanced, grew weary, and often sunk into a sort

of half doze, conscious all the time of the trot of the horse. But each step was taking him further from Queen

Gerberge, and nearer to Normandy; and what recked he of weariness? Onon; the stars grew pale again, and

the first pink light of dawn showed in the eastern sky; the sun rose, mounted higher and higher, and the day

grew hotter; the horse went more slowly, stumbled, and though Osmond halted and loosed the girth, he only

Osmond looked grievously perplexed; but they had not gone much further before a party of merchants came

in sight, winding their way with a long train of loaded mules, and stout men to guard them, across the plains,

like an eastern caravan in the desert. They gazed in surprise at the tall young Norman holding the child upon

"Sir merchant," said Osmond to the first, "see you this steed? Better horse never was ridden; but he is sorely

spent, and we must make speed. Let me barter him with you for yonder stout palfrey. He is worth twice as

The merchant, seeing the value of Osmond's gallant black, accepted the offer; and Osmond removing his

saddle, and placing Richard on his new steed, again mounted, and on they went through the country which

Osmond's eye had marked with the sagacity men acquire by living in wild, unsettled places. The great

marshes were now far less dangerous than in the winter, and they safely crossed them. There had, as yet, been

no pursuit, and Osmond's only fear was for his little charge, who, not having recovered his full strength since

his illness, began to suffer greatly from fatigue in the heat of that broiling summer day, and leant against

Osmond patiently, but very wearily, without moving or looking up. He scarcely revived when the sun went

down, and a cool breeze sprang up, which much refreshed Osmond himself; and still more did it refresh the

Squire to see, at length, winding through the green pastures, a blue river, on the opposite bank of which rose a

"The Epte! the Epte! There is Normandy, sir! Look up, and see your own dukedom." "Normandy!" cried

Richard, sitting upright. "Oh, my own home!" Still the Epte was wide and deep, and the peril was not yet

ended. Osmond looked anxiously, and rejoiced to see marks of cattle, as if it had been forded. "We must try

it," he said, and dismounting, he waded in, leading the horse, and firmly holding Richard in the saddle. Deep

they went; the water rose to Richard's feet, then to the horse's neck; then the horse was swimming, and

Osmond too, still keeping his firm hold; then there was ground again, the force of the current was less, and

they were gaining the bank. At that instant, however, they perceived two men aiming at them with

crossbows from the castle, and another standing on the bank above them, who called out, "Hold! None pass

the ford of Montemar without permission of the noble Dame Yolande." "Ha! Bertrand, the Seneschal, is that

you?" returned Osmond. "Who calls me by my name?" replied the Seneschal. "It is I, Osmond de Centeville.

Open your gates quickly, Sir Seneschal; for here is the Duke, sorely in need of rest and refreshment."

"The Duke!" exclaimed Bertrand, hurrying down to the landingplace, and throwing off his cap. "The Duke!

the Duke!" rang out the shout from the menatarms on the battlements above and in an instant more

Osmond had led the horse up from the water, and was exclaiming, "Look up, my Lord, look up! You are in

"Welcome, indeed, most noble Lord Duke! Blessings on the day!" cried the Seneschal. "What joy for my

"He is sorely weary," said Osmond, looking anxiously at Richard, who, even at the welcome cries that

showed so plainly that he was in his own Normandy, scarcely raised himself or spoke. "He had been very

sick ere I brought him away. I doubt me they sought to poison him, and I vowed not to tarry at Laon another

hour after he was fit to move. But cheer up, my Lord; you are safe and free now, and here is the good Dame

"Alas, no!" said the Seneschal; "our Dame is gone with young Alberic on a pilgrimage to Jumieges to pray

for the Duke's safety. What joy for them to know that their prayers have been granted!"

Osmond, however, could scarcely rejoice, so alarmed was he at the extreme weariness and exhaustion of his

charge, who, when they brought him into the Castle hall, hardly spoke or looked, and could not eat. They

carried him up to Alberic's bed, where he tossed about restlessly, too tired to sleep.

"Alas! alas!" said Osmond, "I have been too hasty. I have but saved him from the Franks to be his death by

"Hush! Sieur de Centeville," said the Seneschal's wife, coming into the room. "To talk in that manner is the

Osmond was sure his Duke was among friends, and would have been glad to trust him to a woman; but

Richard had but one instinct left in all his weakness and exhaustionto cling close to Osmond, as if he felt

him his only friend and protector; for he was, as yet, too much worn out to understand that he was in

Normandy and safe. For two or three hours, therefore, Osmond and the Seneschal's wife watched on each

side of his bed, soothing his restlessness, until at length he became quiet, and at last dropped sound asleep.

The sun was high in the heavens when Richard awoke. He turned on his strawfilled crib, and looked up. It

was not the tapestried walls of his chamber at Laon that met his opening eyes, but the rugged stone and tall

loophole window of a turret chamber. Osmond de Centeville lay on the floor by his side, in the sound sleep

It was the bright face and sparkling eyes of Alberic de Montemar, who was leaning against the foot of his

bed, gazing earnestly, as he watched for his waking. There was a cry"Alberic! Alberic!" "My Lord! my

Lord!" Richard sat up and held out both arms, and Alberic flung himself into them. They hugged each other,

and uttered broken exclamations and screams of joy, enough to have awakened any sleeper but one so

"Yes, yes!oh, yes, my Lord! You are at Montemar. Everything here is yours. The bartailed hawk is quite

well, and my mother will be here this evening; she let me ride on the instant we heard the news."

"We rode long and late, and I was very weary," said Richard! "but I don't care, now we are at home. But I can

"See here, my Lord!" said Alberic, standing by the window. "Look here, and you will know you are at home

Richard bounded to the window, and what a sight met his eyes! The Castle court was thronged with

menatarms and horses, the morning sun sparkling on many a burnished hauberk and tall conical helmet,

and above them waved many a banner and pennon that Richard knew full well. "There! there!" he shouted

aloud with glee. "Oh, there is the horseshoe of Ferrieres! and there the chequers of Warenne! Oh, and best

of all, there isthere is our own red pennon of Centeville! O Alberic! Alberic! is Sir Eric here? I must go

"Bertrand sent out notice to them all, as soon as you came, to come and guard our Castle," said Alberic, "lest

the Franks should pursue you; but you are safe nowsafe as Norman spears can make youthanks be to

"Yes, thanks to God!" said Richard, crossing himself and kneeling reverently for some minutes, while he

repeated his Latin prayer; then, rising and looking at Alberic, he said, "I must thank Him, indeed, for he has

saved Osmond and me from the cruel King and Queen, and I must try to be a less hasty and overbearing boy

than I was when I went away; for I vowed that so I would be, if ever I came back. Poor Osmond, how

And, holding Alberic's hand, Richard left the room, and descended the stairs to the Castle hall. Many of the

Norman knights and barons, in full armour, were gathered there; but Richard looked only for one. He knew

Sir Eric's grizzled hair, and blue inlaid armour, though his back was towards him, and in a moment, before

his entrance had been perceived, he sprang towards him, and, with outstretched arms, exclaimed: "Sir

The old Baron turned. "My child!" he exclaimed, and clasped him in his mailed arms, while the tears flowed

down his rugged cheeks. "Blessed be God that you are safe, and that my son has done his duty!"

"Yes, right well, since she heard of your safety. But look round, my Lord; it befits not a Duke to be clinging

thus round an old man's neck. See how many of your true vassals be here, to guard you from the villain

Richard stood up, and held out his hand, bowing courteously and acknowledging the greetings of each bold

baron, with a grace and readiness he certainly had not when he left Normandy. He was taller too; and though

still pale, and not dressed with much care (since he had hurried on his clothes with no help but

Alberic's)though his hair was rough and disordered, and the scar of the burn had not yet faded from his

checkyet still, with his bright blue eyes, glad face, and upright form, he was a princely, promising boy, and

the Norman knights looked at him with pride and joy, more especially when, unprompted, he said: "I thank

you, gallant knights, for coming to guard me. I do not fear the whole French host now I am among my own

Sir Eric led him to the door of the hall to the top of the steps, that the menatarms might see him; and then

such a shout rang out of "Long live Duke Richard!""Blessings on the little Duke!"that it echoed and

came back again from the hills aroundit pealed from the old towerit roused Osmond from his

sleepand, if anything more had been wanting to do so, it made Richard feel that he was indeed in a land

Before the shout had died away, a buglehorn was heard winding before the gate; and Sir Eric, saying, "It is

the Count of Harcourt's note," sent Bertrand to open the gates in haste, while Alberic followed, as Lord of the

The old Count rode into the court, and to the foot of the steps, where he dismounted, Alberic holding his

stirrup. He had not taken many steps upwards before Richard came voluntarily to meet him (which he had

never done before), held out his hand, and said, "Welcome, Count Bernard, welcome. Thank you for coming

"Ah, my young Lord," said Bernard, "I am right glad to see you out of the clutches of the Franks! You know

"Yes, indeed I do, Count Bernard. I know you meant kindly by me, and that I ought to have thanked you, and

not been angry, when you reproved me. Wait one moment, Sir Count; there is one thing that I promised

myself to say if ever I came safe to my own dear home. WalterMauriceJeannotall you of my

household, and of Sir Eric's I know, before I went away, I was often no good Lord to you; I was

passionate, and proud, and overbearing; but God has punished me for it, when I was far away among my

enemies, and sick and lonely. I am very sorry for it, and I hope you will pardon me; for I will strive, and I

"There, Sir Eric," said Bernard, "you hear what the boy says. If he speaks it out so bold and free, without

bidding, and if he holds to what he says, I doubt it not that he shall not grieve for his journey to France, and

that we shall see him, in all things, such a Prince as his father of blessed memory."

"You must thank Osmond for me," said Richard, as Osmond came down, awakened at length. "It is Osmond

who has helped me to bear my troubles; and as to saving me, why he flew away with me even like an old

eagle with its eaglet. I say, Osmond, you must ever after this wear a pair of wings on shield and pennon, to

"As you will, my Lord," said Osmond, half asleep; "but 'twas a good long flight at a stretch, and I trust never

What a glad summer's day was that! Even the three hours spent in council did but renew the relish with which

Richard visited Alberic's treasures, told his adventures, and showed the accomplishments he had learnt at

Laon. The evening was more joyous still; for the Castle gates were opened, first to receive Dame Yolande

Montemar, and not above a quarter of an hour afterwards, the drawbridge was lowered to admit the followers

of Centeville; and in front of them appeared Fru Astrida's own high cap. Richard made but one bound into her

arms, and was clasped to her breast; then held off at arm'slength, that she might see how much he was

grown, and pity his scar; then hugged closer than ever: but, taking another look, she declared that Osmond

left his hair like King Harald Horridlocks; {16} and, drawing an ivory comb from her pouch, began to pull

out the thick tangles, hurting him to a degree that would once have made him rebel, but now he only fondled

As to Osmond, when he knelt before her, she blessed him, and sobbed over him, and blamed him for

overtiring her darling, all in one; and assuredly, when night closed in and Richard had, as of old, told his

Montemar was too near the frontier to be a safe abode for the little Duke, and his uncle, Count Hubert of

Senlis, agreed with Bernard the Dane that he would be more secure beyond the limits of his own duchy,

which was likely soon to be the scene of war; and, sorely against his will, he was sent in secret, under a

His consolation was, that he was not again separated from his friends; Alberic, Sir Eric, and even Fru Astrida,

accompanied him, as well as his constant follower, Osmond. Indeed, the Baron would hardly bear that he

should be out of his sight; and he was still so carefully watched, that it was almost like a captivity. Never,

even in the summer days, was he allowed to go beyond the Castle walls; and his guardians would fain have

Osmond did not give him so much of his company as usual, but was always at work in the armourer's

forgea low, vaulted chamber, opening into the Castle court. Richard and Alberic were very curious to

know what he did there; but he fastened the door with an iron bar, and they were forced to content themselves

with listening to the strokes of the hammer, keeping time to the voice that sang out, loud and cheerily, the

song of "Sigurd's sword, and the maiden sleeping within the ring of flame." Fru Astrida said Osmond was

quite right no good weaponsmith ever toiled with open doors; and when the boys asked him questions as

to his work, he only smiled, and said that they would see what it was when the call to arms should come.

They thought it near at hand, for tidings came that Louis had assembled his army, and marched into

Normandy to recover the person of the young Duke, and to seize the country. No summons, however, arrived,

but a message came instead, that Rouen had been surrendered into the bands of the King. Richard shed

indignant tears. "My father's Castle! My own city in the hands of the foe! Bernard is a traitor then! None shall

"Never fear, Lord Duke," said Osmond. "When you come to the years of Knighthood, your own sword shall

"What! you too, son Osmond? I deemed you carried a cooler brain than to miscall one who was true to

"He has yielded my dukedom! It is miscalling to say he is aught but a traitor!" cried Richard. "Vile,

"Peace, peace, my Lord," said the Baron. "Bernard has more in that wary head of his than your young wits, or

my old ones, can unwind. What he is doing I may not guess, but I gage my life his heart is right."

Richard was silent, remembering he had been once unjust, but he grieved heartily when he thought of the

French in Rollo's tower, and it was further reported that the King was about to share Normandy among his

French vassals. A fresh outcry broke out in the little garrison of Senlis, but Sir Eric still persisted in his trust

in his friend Bernard, even when he heard that Centeville was marked out as the prey of the fat French Count

"What say you now, my Lord?" said he, after a conference with a messenger at the gate. "The Black Raven

has spread its wings. Fifty keels are in the Seine, and Harald Bluetooth's Long Serpent at the head of them."

"Ay, that he is! Come at Bernard's secret call, to right you, and put you on your father's seat. Now call honest

Harcourt a traitor, because he gave not up your fair dukedom to the flame and sword!"

"No traitor to me," said Richard, pausing. "No, verily, but what more would you say?"

"I think, when I come to my dukedom, I will not be so politic," said Richard. "I will be an open friend or an

"The boy grows too sharp for us," said Sir Eric, smiling, "but it was spoken like his father."

"But the Danes, father, the Danes!" said Osmond. "Blows will be passing now. I may join the host and win

"With all my heart," returned the Baron, "so my Lord here gives you leave: would that I could leave him and

go with you. It would do my very spirit good but to set foot in a Northern keel once more."

"Oh! they are only Danes, not Norsemen, and there are no Vikings, such as once were when Ragnar laid

"Son, son, what talk is this for the child's ears?" broke in Fru Astrida, "are these words for a Christian

"Your pardon, mother," said the grey warrior, in all humility, "but my blood thrills to hear of a Northern fleet

The next morning, Osmond's steed was led to the door, and such men atarms as could be spared from the

garrison of Senlis were drawn up in readiness to accompany him. The boys stood on the steps, wishing they

were old enough to be warriors, and wondering what had become of him, until at length the sound of an

opening door startled them, and there, in the low archway of the smithy, the red furnace glowing behind him,

stood Osmond, clad in bright steel, the links of his hauberk reflecting the light, and on his helmet a pair of

"May they fly after the foe, not before him," said Sir Eric. "Speed thee well, my sonlet not our Danish

With such farewells, Osmond quitted Senlis, while the two boys hastened to the battlements to watch him as

The highest tower became their principal resort, and their eyes were constantly on the heath where he had

disappeared; but days passed, and they grew weary of the watch, and betook themselves to games in the

One day, Alberic, in the character of a Dragon, was lying on his back, panting hard so as to be supposed to

cast out volumes of flame and smoke at Richard, the Knight, who with a stick for a lance, and a wooden

sword, was waging fierce war; when suddenly the Dragon paused, sat up, and pointed towards the warder on

the tower. His horn was at his lips, and in another moment, the blast rang out through the Castle.

With a loud shout, both boys rushed headlong up the turret stairs, and came to the top so breathless, that they

could not even ask the warder what he saw. He pointed, and the keeneyed Alberic exclaimed, "I see! Look,

"If only it be not flight in earnest," said Alberic, a little anxiously, looking into the warder's face, for he was a

borderer, and tales of terror of the inroad of the Vicomte du Contentin were rife on the marches of the Epte.

"No, young Sir," said the warder, "no fear of that. I know how men ride when they flee from the battle."

"No, indeed, there is no discomfiture in the pace of that steed," said Sir Eric, who had by this time joined

"I see him clearer! I see the horse," cried Richard, dancing with eagerness, so that Sir Eric caught hold of

him, exclaiming, "You will be over the battlements! hold still! better hear of a battle lost than that!"

"A banner or pennon," said the warder; "methinks he rides like the young Baron."

"He does! My brave boy! He has done good service," exclaimed Sir Eric, as the figure became more

"His wings bring good tidings," said Richard. "Let me go, Sir Eric, I must tell Fru Astrida."

The drawbridge was lowered, the portcullis raised, and as all the dwellers in the Castle stood gathered in the

court, in rode the warrior with the winged helm, bearing in his hand a drooping banner; lowering it as he

entered, it unfolded, and displayed, trailing on the ground at the feet of the little Duke of Normandy, the

A shout of amazement arose, and all gathered round him, asking hurried questions. "A great victorythe

Richard would not be denied holding his hand, and leading him to the hall, and there, sitting around him, they

heard his tidings. His father's first question was, what he thought of their kinsmen, the Danes?

"Rude comrades, father, I must own," said Osmond, smiling, and shaking his head. "I could not pledge them

"None the worse warriors," said Sir Eric. "Ay, ay, and you were dainty, and brooked not the hearty old

fashion of tearing the whole sheep to pieces. You must needs cut your portion with the fine French knife at

Osmond could not see that a man was braver for being a savage, but he held his peace; and Richard

impatiently begged to hear how the battle had gone, and where it had been fought.

"On the bank of the Dive," said Osmond. "Ah, father, you might well call old Harcourt waryhis name

might better have been Foxheart than Bearheart! He had sent to the Franks a message of distress, that the

"I trust there was no treachery. No foul dealing shall be wrought in my name," exclaimed Richard, with such

dignity of tone and manner, as made all feel he was indeed their Duke, and forget his tender years.

"No, or should I tell the tale with joy like this?" said Osmond. "Bernard's view was to bring the Kings

together, and let Louis see you had friends to maintain your right. He sought but to avoid bloodshed."

"The Danes were encamped on the Dive, and so soon as the French came in sight, Bluetooth sent a

messenger to Louis, to summon him to quit Neustria, and leave it to you, its lawful owner. Thereupon, Louis,

hoping to win him over with wily words, invited him to hold a personal conference."

"Where I had scarce patience to be. Bernard had gathered all of us honest Normans together, and arranged us

beneath that standard of the King, as if to repel his Danish inroad. Oh, he was, in all seeming,

handandglove with Louis, guiding him by his counsel, and, verily, seeming his friend and best adviser! But

in one thing he could not prevail. That ungrateful recreant, Herluin of Montreuil, came with the King, hoping,

it seems, to get his share of our spoils; and when Bernard advised the King to send him home, since no true

Norman could bear the sight of him, the hotheaded Franks vowed no Norman should hinder them from

bringing whom they chose. So a tent was set up by the riverside, wherein the two Kings, with Bernard, Alan

of Brittany, and Count Hugh, held their meeting. We all stood without, and the two hosts began to mingle

together, we Normans making acquaintance with the Danes. There was a redhaired, wildlooking fellow,

who told me he had been with Anlaff in England, and spoke much of the doings of Hako in Norway; when,

suddenly, he pointed to a Knight who was near, speaking to a Cotentinois, and asked me his name. My blood

boiled as I answered, for it was Montreuil himself! 'The cause of your Duke's death!' said the Dane. 'Ha, ye

"You said, I trust, my son, that we follow not the laws of Odin?" said Fru Astrida.

"I had no space for a word, grandmother; the Danes took the vengeance on themselves. In one moment they

rushed on Herluin with their axes, and the unhappy man was dead. All was tumult; every one struck without

knowing at whom, or for what. Some shouted, 'Thor Hulfe!' some 'Dieu aide!' others 'Montjoie St. Denis!'

Northern blood against French, that was all our guide. I found myself at the foot of this standard, and had a

"They hurried out of the tent, it seems, to rejoin their men. Louis mounted, but you know of old, my Lord, he

is but an indifferent horseman, and the beast carried him into the midst of the Danes, where King Harald

caught his bridle, and delivered him to four Knights to keep. Whether he dealt secretly with them, or whether

they, as they declared, lost sight of him whilst plundering his tent, I cannot say; but when Harald demanded

"You shall hear. He rode four leagues, and met one of the baser sort of Rouennais, whom he bribed to hide

him in the Isle of Willows. However, Bernard made close inquiries, found the fellow had been seen in speech

with a French horseman, pounced on his wife and children, and threatened they should die if he did not

disclose the secret. So the King was forced to come out of his hidingplace, and is now fast guarded in

Rollo's towera Dane, with a battleaxe on his shoulder, keeping guard at every turn of the stairs."

"Ha! ha!" cried Richard. "I wonder how he likes it. I wonder if he remembers holding me up to the window,

"I was a little boy then," said Richard, proudly. "Why, the very walls must remind him of his oath, and how

"Remember it, my childbeware of broken vows," said Father Lucas; "but remember it not in triumph over

a fallen foe. It were better that all came at once to the chapel, to bestow their thanksgivings where alone they

After nearly a year's captivity, the King engaged to pay a ransom, and, until the terms could be arranged, his

two sons were to be placed as hostages in the hands of the Normans, whilst he returned to his own domains.

The Princes were to be sent to Bayeux; whither Richard had returned, under the charge of the Centevilles,

and was now allowed to ride and walk abroad freely, provided he was accompanied by a guard.

"I shall rejoice to have Carloman, and make him happy," said Richard; "but I wish Lothaire were not

"Perhaps," said good Father Lucas, "he comes that you may have a first trial in your father's last lesson, and

He and Alberic betook themselves to the watchtower, and, by and by, saw a cavalcade approaching, with a

curtained vehicle in the midst, slung between two horses. "That cannot be the Princes," said Alberic; "that

"I only hope it is not the Queen," exclaimed Richard, in dismay. "But no; Lothaire is such a coward, no doubt

he was afraid to ride, and she would not trust her darling without shutting him up like a demoiselle. But come

Richard met the Princes in the court, his sunny hair uncovered, and bowing with such becoming courtesy,

that Fru Astrida pressed her son's arm, and bade him say if their little Duke was not the fairest and noblest

With black looks, Lothaire stepped from the litter, took no heed of the little Duke, but, roughly calling his

attendant, Charlot, to follow him, he marched into the hall, vouchsafing neither word nor look to any as he

passed, threw himself into the highest seat, and ordered Charlot to bring him some wine.

Meanwhile, Richard, looking into the litter, saw Carloman crouching in a corner, sobbing with fright.

"Carloman!dear Carloman!do not cry. Come out! It is Iyour own Richard! Will you not let me

"No one will hurt you. There are no Danes here. You are my guest, my friend, my brother. Look up! here is

"But my mother said the Northmen would kill us for keeping you captive. She wept and raved, and the cruel

"I cannot do that," said Richard; "for you are the King of Denmark's captives, not mine; but I will love you,

and you shall have all that is mine, if you will only not cry, dear Carloman. Oh, Fru Astrida, what shall I do?

Fru Astrida advanced to take his hand, speaking in a soothing voice, but he shrank and started with a fresh

cry of terrorher tall figure, high cap, and wrinkled face, were to him witchlike, and as she knew no

French, he understood not her kind words. However, he let Richard lead him into the hall, where Lothaire sat

moodily in the chair, with one leg tucked under him, and his finger in his mouth.

"I say, Sir Duke," said he, "is there nothing to be had in this old den of yours? Not a drop of Bordeaux?"

Richard tried to repress his anger at this very uncivil way of speaking, and answered, that he thought there

"As if I would taste your mean peasant drinks! I bade them bring my supperwhy does it not come?"

"Because you are not master here," trembled on Richard's lips, but he forced it back, and answered that it

would soon be ready, and Carloman looked imploringly at his brother, and said, "Do not make them angry,

"What, crying still, foolish child?" said Lothaire. "Do you not know that if they dare to cross us, my father

will treat them as they deserve? Bring supper, I say, and let me have a pasty of ortolans."

"Do you mean to give me nothing I like? I tell you it shall be the worse for you."

"If I do not take order with that boy, my name is not Eric," muttered the Baron.

"What must he not have made our poor child suffer!" returned Fru Astrida, "but the little one moves my

heart. How small and weakly he is, but it is worth anything to see our little Duke so tender to him."

"He is too brave not to be gentle," said Osmond; and, indeed, the highspirited, impetuous boy was as soft

and kind as a maiden, with that feeble, timid child. He coaxed him to eat, consoled him, and, instead of

laughing at his fears, kept between him and the great bloodhound Hardigras, and drove it off when it came

"Take that dog away," said Lothaire, imperiously. No one moved to obey him, and the dog, in seeking for

"Take it away," he repeated, and struck it with his foot. The dog growled, and Richard started up in

"Prince Lothaire," he said, "I care not what else you do, but my dogs and my people you shall not maltreat."

"I tell you I am Prince! I do what I will! Ha! who laughs there?" cried the passionate boy, stamping on the

"It is not so easy for French Princes to scourge freeborn Normans here," said the rough voice of Walter the

"Hush, hush, Walter," began Richard; but Lothaire had caught up a footstool, and was aiming it at the

Osmond, who knew him well enough to be prepared for such outbreaks, held him fast by both hands, in spite

Sir Eric, meanwhile, thundered forth in his Norman patois, "I would have you to know, young Sir, Prince

though you be, you are our prisoner, and shall taste of a dungeon, and bread and water, unless you behave

Either Lothaire did not hear, or did not believe, and fought more furiously in Osmond's arms, but he had little

chance with the stalwart young warrior, and, in spite of Richard's remonstrances, he was carried from the

"Let him alone for the present," said Sir Eric, putting the Duke aside, "when he knows his master, we shall

Here Richard had to turn, to reassure Carloman, who had taken refuge in a dark corner, and there shook like

an aspen leaf, crying bitterly, and starting with fright, when Richard touched him.

Richard again tried to comfort him, but he did not seem to hear or heed. "Oh! they said you would beat and

hurt us for what we did to you! but, indeed, it was not I that burnt your cheek!"

"We would not hurt you for worlds, dear Carloman; Lothaire is not in the dungeonhe is only shut up till he

"It was Lothaire that did it," repeated Carloman, "and, indeed, you must not be angry with me, for my mother

was so cross with me for not having stopped Osmond when I met him with the bundle of straw, that she gave

Richard told his story, and was glad to find Carloman could smile at it; and then Fru Astrida advised him to

take his little friend to bed. Carloman would not lie down without still holding Richard's hand, and the little

Duke spared no pains to set him at rest, knowing what it was to be a desolate captive far from home.

"I thought you would be good to me," said Carloman. "As to Lothaire, it serves him right, that you should use

The child rose on his elbow, and looked into Richard's face. "No one ever told me so before."

"I never heed Brother Hilaryhe is so lengthy, and wearisome; besides, no one is ever kind to those that hate

"I wonder if it is happier there, than here," said Carloman. "I am not happy. But tell me why should we be

"Because the holy Saints wereand look at the Crucifix, Carloman. That was for them that hated Him. And,

Poor little Carloman could only repeat the Lord's Prayer in Latinhe had not the least notion of its

meaningin which Richard had been carefully instructed by Father Lucas. He began to explain it, but before

The Duke crept softly away to beg to be allowed to go to Lothaire; he entered the room, already dark, with a

pine torch in his hand, that so flickered in the wind, that he could at first see nothing, but presently beheld a

Lothaire cut him short. "Get away," he said. "If it is your turn now, it will be mine by and by. I wish my

Richard's temper did not serve for such a reply. "It is a foul shame of you to speak so, when I only came out

of kindness to youso I shall leave you here all night, and not ask Sir Eric to let you out."

And he swung back the heavy door with a resounding clang. But his heart smote him when he told his beads,

and remembered what he had said to Carloman. He knew he could not sleep in his warm bed when Lothaire

was in that cold gusty room. To be sure, Sir Eric said it would do him good, but Sir Eric little knew how

So Richard crept down in the dark, slid back the bolt, and called, "Prince, Prince, I am sorry I was angry.

"Come out of the cold and dark. Here am I. I will show you the way. Where is your hand? Oh, how cold it is.

Lothaire was subdued by fright, cold, and darkness, and quietly allowed Richard to lead him down. Round

the fire, at the lower end of the hall, snored halfadozen menatarms; at the upper hearth there was only

Hardigras, who raised his head as the boys came in. Richard's whisper and soft pat quieted him instantly, and

the two little Princes sat on the hearth together, Lothaire surprised, but sullen. Richard stirred the embers, so

Richard thought his advances might have been more graciously met, and, having little encouragement to say

As the Baron had said, there was more peace now that Lothaire had learnt to know that he must submit, and

that no one cared for his threats of his father's or his mother's vengeance. He was very sulky and disagreeable,

and severely tried Richard's forbearance; but there were no fresh outbursts, and, on the whole, from one week

to another, there might be said to be an improvement. He could not always hold aloof from one so

goodnatured and goodhumoured as the little Duke; and the fact of being kept in order could not but have

Indeed, Osmond was once heard to say, it was a pity the boy was not to be a hostage for life; to which Sir

Little Carloman, meanwhile, recovered from his fears of all the inmates of the Castle excepting Hardigras, at

He renewed his friendship with Osmond, no longer started at the entrance of Sir Eric, laughed at Alberic's

merry ways, and liked to sit on Fru Astrida's lap, and hear her sing, though he understood not one word; but

his especial love was still for his first friend, Duke Richard. Handinhand they went about together, Richard

sometimes lifting him up the steep steps, and, out of consideration for him, refraining from rough play; and

Richard led him to join with him in those lessons that Father Lucas gave the children of the Castle, every

Friday and Sunday evening in the Chapel. The good Priest stood on the Altar steps, with the children in a half

circle round himthe son and daughter of the armourer, the huntsman's little son, the young Baron de

Montemar, the Duke of Normandy, and the Prince of France, all were equal thereand together they learnt,

as he explained to them the things most needful to believe; and thus Carloman left off wondering why

Richard thought it right to be good to his enemies; and though at first he had known less than even the little

leathercoated huntsman, he seemed to take the holy lessons in faster than any of themyes, and act on

them, too. His feeble health seemed to make him enter into their comfort and meaning more than even

Richard; and Alberic and Father Lucas soon told Fru Astrida that it was a saintlyminded child.

Indeed, Carloman was more disposed to thoughtfulness, because he was incapable of joining in the sports of

the other boys. A race round the court was beyond his strength, the fresh wind on the battlements made him

shiver and cower, and loud shouting play was dreadful to him. In old times, he used to cry when Lothaire told

him he must have his hair cut, and be a priest; now, he only said quietly, he should like it very much, if he

Fru Astrida sighed and shook her head, and feared the poor child would never grow up to be anything on this

earth. Great as had been the difference at first between him and Richard, it was now far greater. Richard was

an unusually strong boy for ten years old, upright and broadchested, and growing very fast; while Carloman

seemed to dwindle, stooped forward from weakness, had thin pinched features, and sallow cheeks, looking

The old Baron said that hardy, healthy habits would restore the puny children; and Lothaire improved in

health, and therewith in temper; but his little brother had not strength enough to bear the seasoning. He pined

and drooped more each day; and as the autumn came on, and the wind was chilly, he grew worse, and was

scarcely ever off the lap of the kind Lady Astrida. It was not a settled sickness, but he grew weaker, and

wasted away. They made up a little couch for him by the fire, with the high settle between it and the door, to

keep off the draughts; and there he used patiently to lie, hour after hour, speaking feebly, or smiling and

seeming pleased, when any one of those he loved approached. He liked Father Lucas to come and say prayers

with him; and he never failed to have a glad look, when his dear little Duke came to talk to him, in his

cheerful voice, about his rides and his hunting and hawking adventures. Richard's sick guest took up much of

his thoughts, and he never willingly spent many hours at a distance from him, softening his step and lowering

"Richard, is it you?" said the little boy, as the young figure came round the settle in the darkening twilight.

"No better, thanks, dear Richard;" and the little wasted fingers were put into his.

"I feel as if I should die," said the little boy; "I think I shall. But do not grieve, Richard. I do not feel much

"Where my blessed father is," said Richard, thoughtfully. "But oh, Carloman, you are so young to die!"

"I do not want to live. This is a fighting, hard world, full of cruel people; and it is peace there. You are strong

and brave, and will make them better; but I am weak and fearfulI could only sigh and grieve."

"Oh, Carloman! Carloman! I cannot spare you. I love you like my own brother. You must not dieyou must

"Commend me to them," said Carloman. "I am going to my Father in heaven. I am glad I am here, Richard; I

never was so happy before. I should have been afraid indeed to die, if Father Lucas had not taught me how

He spoke feebly, and his last words faltered into sleep. He slept on; and when supper was brought, and the

lamps were lighted, Fru Astrida thought the little face looked unusually pale and waxen; but he did not

awake. At night, they carried him to his bed, and he was roused into a half conscious state, moaning at being

At midnight, all were wakened by the slow notes, falling one by one on the ear, of the solemn passingbell,

calling them to waken, that their prayers might speed a soul on its way. Richard and Lothaire were soon at the

bedside. Carloman lay still asleep, his hands folded on his breast, but his breath came in long gasps. Father

Lucas was praying over him, and candles were placed on each side of the bed. All was still, the boys not

daring to speak or move. There came a longer breaththen they heard no more. He was, indeed, gone to a

Then the boys' grief burst out. Lothaire screamed for his mother, and sobbed out that he should die toohe

must go home. Richard stood by the bed, large silent tears rolling down his cheeks, and his chest heaving

Fru Astrida led them from the room, back to their beds. Lothaire soon cried himself to sleep. Richard lay

awake, sorrowful, and in deep thought; while that scene in St. Mary's, at Rouen, returned before his eyes, and

though it had passed nearly two years ago, its meaning and its teaching had sunk deep into his mind, and now

"Where shall I go, when I come to die, if I have not returned good for evil?" And a resolution was taken in

Morning came, and brought back the sense that his gentle little companion was gone from him; and Richard

wept again, as if he could not be consoled, as he beheld the screened couch where the patient smile would

never again greet him. He now knew that he had loved Carloman all the more for his weakness and

helplessness; but his grief was not like Lothaire's, for with the Prince's was still joined a selfish fear: his cry

was still, that he should die too, if not set free, and violent weeping really made him heavy and ill.

The little corpse, embalmed and lapped in lead, was to be sent back to France, that it might rest with its

forefathers in the city of Rheims; and Lothaire seemed to feel this as an additional stroke of desertion. He was

almost beside himself with despair, imploring every one, in turn, to send him home, though he well knew

"Sir Eric," said Richard, "you told me there was a Parlement to be held at Falaise, between Count Bernard

and the King of Denmark. I mean to attend it. Will you come with me, or shall Osmond go, and you remain

"I have something to say," replied Richard. The Baron made no objection, only telling his mother that the

Duke was a marvellous wise child, and that he would soon be fit to take the government himself.

Lothaire lamented the more when he found that Richard was going away; his presence seemed to him a

protection, and he fancied, now Carloman was dead, that his former injuries were about to be revenged. The

Duke assured him, repeatedly, that he meant him nothing but kindness, adding, "When I return, you will see,

Lothaire;" then, commending him to the care and kindness of Fru Astrida, Osmond, and Alberic, Richard set

Richard felt sad when he looked back at Bayeux, and thought that it no longer contained his dear little friend;

but it was a fresh bright frosty morning, the fields were covered with a silverywhite coating, the flakes of

hoarfrost sparkled on every bush, and the hard ground rung cheerily to the tread of the horses' feet. As the

yellow sun fought his way through the grey mists that dimmed his brightness, and shone out merrily in the

blue heights of the sky, Richard's spirits rose, and he laughed and shouted, as hare or rabbit rushed across the

heath, or as the plover rose screaming above his head, flapping her broad wings across the wintry sky.

One night they slept at a Convent, where they heard that Hugh of Paris had passed on to join the conference

at Falaise. The next day they rode on, and, towards the afternoon, the Baron pointed to a sharp rocky range of

hills, crowned by a tall solid tower, and told Richard, yonder was his keep of Falaise, the strongest Castle in

The country was far more broken as they advancednarrow valleys and sharp hills, each little vale full of

wood, and interspersed with rocks. "A choice place for game," Sir Eric said and Richard, as he saw a herd of

deer dash down a forest glade, exclaimed, "that they must come here to stay, for some autumn sport."

There seemed to be huntsmen abroad in the woods; for through the frosty air came the baying of dogs, the

shouts and calls of men, and, now and then, the echoing, ringing notes of a bugle. Richard's eyes and cheeks

glowed with excitement, and he pushed his brisk little pony on faster and faster, unheeding that the heavier

men and horses of his suite were not keeping pace with him on the rough ground and through the tangled

Presently, a strange sound of growling and snarling was heard close at hand: his pony swerved aside, and

could not be made to advance; so Richard, dismounting, dashed through some briars, and there, on an open

space, beneath a precipice of dark ivycovered rock, that rose like a wall, he beheld a huge grey wolf and a

large dog in mortal combat. It was as if they had fallen or rolled down the precipice together, not heeding it in

their fury. Both were bleeding, and the eyes of both glared like red fiery glass in the dark shadow of the rock.

The dog lay undermost, almost overpowered, making but a feeble resistance; and the wolf would, in another

But not a thought of fear passed through his breast; to save the dog was Richard's only idea. In one moment

he had drawn the dagger he wore at his girdle, ran to the two struggling animals, and with all his force,

plunged it into the throat of the wolf, which, happily, was still held by the teeth of the hound.

The struggles relaxed, the wolf rolled heavily aside, dead; the dog lay panting and bleeding, and Richard

feared he was cruelly torn. "Poor fellow! noble dog! what shall I do to help you?" and he gently smoothed the

A voice was now heard shouting aloud, at which the dog raised and crested his head, as a figure in a hunting

dress was coming down a rocky pathway, an extremely tall, wellmade man, of noble features. "Ha! holla!

Vige! Vige! How now, my brave hound?" he said in the Northern tongue, though not quite with the accent

"Much torn, I fear," Richard called out, as the faithful creature wagged his tail, and strove to rise and meet his

"Ha, lad! what art thou?" exclaimed the hunter, amazed at seeing the boy between the dead wolf and

wounded dog. "You look like one of those Frenchified Norman gentilesse, with your smooth locks and gilded

baldrick, yet your words are Norse. By the hammer of Thor! that is a dagger in the wolf's throat!"

"It is mine," said Richard. "I found your dog nearly spent, and I made in to the rescue."

"You did? Well done! I would not have lost Vige for all the plunder of Italy. I am beholden to you, my brave

young lad," said the stranger, all the time examining and caressing the hound. "What is your name? You

As he spoke, more shouts came near; and the Baron de Centeville rushed through the trees holding Richard's

pony by the bridle. "My Lord, my Lord!oh, thank Heaven, I see you safe!" At the same moment a party of

"Ha!" exclaimed he, "what do I see? My young Lord! what brought you here?" And with a hasty obeisance,

"I came hither to attend your council," replied Richard. "I have a boon to ask of the King of Denmark."

"Any boon the King of Denmark has in his power will be yours," said the dog's master, slapping his hand on

the little Duke's shoulder, with a rude, hearty familiarity, that took him by surprise; and he looked up with a

shade of offence, till, on a sudden flash of perception, he took off his cap, exclaiming, "King Harald himself!

"Pardon, Jarl Richart! What would you have me pardon?your saving the life of Vige here? No French

politeness for me. Tell me your boon, and it is yours. Shall I take you a voyage, and harry the fat monks of

"Oh, ha! I forgot. They have made a Christian of youmore's the pity. You have the Northern spirit so

strong. I had forgotten it. Come, walk by my side, and let me hear what you would ask. Holla, you Sweyn!

"What?the young Frank? Why they kept you captive, burnt your face, and would have made an end of you

"That is long past, and Lothaire is so wretched. His brother is dead, and he is sick with grief, and he says he

"A good thing too for the treacherous race to die out in him! What should you care for him? he is your foe."

"Well, I promised you whatever you might ask. All my share of his ransom, or his person, bond or free, is

Richard feared this would be more difficult; but Abbot Martin came to the meeting, and took his part.

Moreover, the idea of their hostage dying in their hands, so as to leave them without hold upon the King, had

much weight with them; and, after long deliberation, they consented that Lothaire should be restored to his

father, without ransom but only on condition that Louis should guarantee to the Duke the peaceable

possession of the country, as far as St. Clair sur Epte, which had been long in dispute; so that Alberic became,

Perhaps it was the happiest day in Richard's life when he rode back to Bayeux, to desire Lothaire to prepare

to come with him to St. Clair, there to be given back into the hands of his father.

And then they met King Louis, grave and sorrowful for the loss of his little Carloman, and, for the time,

He pressed the Duke in his arms, and his kiss was a genuine one as he said, "Duke Richard, we have not

deserved this of you. I did not treat you as you have treated my children. We will be true lord and vassal from

Lothaire's last words were, "Farewell, Richard. If I lived with you, I might be good like you. I will never

When Richard once more entered Rouen in state, his subjects shouting round him in transports of joy, better

than all his honour and glory was the being able to enter the Church of our Lady, and kneel by his father's

grave, with a clear conscience, and the sense that he had tried to keep that last injunction.

Years had passed away. The oaths of Louis, and promises of Lothaire, had been broken; and Arnulf of

Flanders, the murderer of Duke William, had incited them to repeated and treacherous inroads on Normandy;

so that Richard's life, from fourteen to five or sixand twenty, had been one long war in defence of his

country. But it had been a glorious war for him, and his gallant deeds had well earned for him the title of

"Richard the Fearless"a name well deserved; for there was but one thing he feared, and that was, to do

By and by, success and peace came; and then Arnulf of Flanders, finding open force would not destroy him,

three times made attempts to assassinate him, like his father, by treachery. But all these had failed; and now

Richard had enjoyed many years of peace and honour, whilst his enemies had vanished from his sight.

King Louis was killed by a fall from his horse; Lothaire died in early youth, and in him ended the degenerate

line of Charlemagne; Hugh Capet, the son of Richard's old friend, Hugh the White, was on the throne of

France, his sure ally and brotherinlaw, looking to him for advice and aid in all his undertakings.

Fru Astrida and Sir Eric had long been in their quiet graves; Osmond and Alberic were among Richard's most

trusty councillors and warriors; Abbot Martin, in extreme old age, still ruled the Abbey of Jumieges, where

Richard, like his father, loved to visit him, hold converse with him, and refresh himself in the peaceful

And Richard himself was a greyheaded man, of lofty stature and majestic bearing. His eldest son was older

than he had been himself when he became the little Duke, and he had even begun to remember his father's

It was on a summer eve, that Duke Richard sat beside the white bearded old Abbot, within the porch,

looking at the sun shining with soft declining beams on the arches and columns. They spoke together of that

burial at Rouen, and of the silver key; the Abbot delighting to tell, over and over again, all the good deeds

As they sat, a man, also very old and shrivelled and bent, came up to the cloister gate, with the tottering,

At the sight of him, a look of terror shot from the old man's eye. He clasped his hands together, and turned as

if to flee; then, finding himself incapable of escape, he threw himself on the ground before him.

"Rise upkneel not to me. I cannot brook this from one who might be my father," said Richard, trying to

"Who art thou?" said the Duke. "In this holy place thou art secure, be thy deed what it may. Speak!who art

"Dost thou not know me?" said the suppliant. "Promise mercy, ere thou dost hear my name."

"I have seen that face under a helmet," said the Duke. "Thou art Arnulf of Flanders!"

"I delayed to own the French King Hugh. He has taken my towns and ravaged my lands. Each Frenchman

and each Norman vows to slay me, in revenge for your wrongs, Lord Duke. I have been driven hither and

thither, in fear of my life, till I thought of the renown of Duke Richard, not merely the most fearless, but the

most merciful of Princes. I sought to come hither, trusting that, when the holy Father Abbot beheld my bitter

repentance, he would intercede for me with you, most noble Prince, for my safety and forgiveness. Oh,

"Rise up, Arnulf," said Richard. "Where the hand of the Lord hath stricken, it is not for man to exact his own

reckoning. My father's death has been long forgiven, and what you may have planned against myself has, by

the blessing of Heaven, been brought to nought. From Normans at least you are safe; and it shall be my work

to ensure your pardon from my brother the King. Come into the refectory: you need refreshment. The Lord

Tears of gratitude and true repentance choked Arnulf's speech, and he allowed himself to be raised from the

The venerable Abbot slowly rose, and held up his hand in an attitude of blessing: "The blessing of a merciful

God be upon the sinner who turneth from his evil way; and ten thousand blessings of pardon and peace are

already on the head of him who hath stretched out his hand to forgive and aid him who was once his most

{1} Richard's place of education was Bayeaux; for, as Duke William says in the rhymed Chronicle of

"Si a Roem le faz garder E norir, gaires longement Il ne saura parlier neiant Daneis, kar nul n l'i parole. Si

voil qu'il seit a tele escole Qu l'en le sache endoctriner Que as Daneis sache parler. Ci ne sevent riens fors

{2} Bernard was founder of the family of Harcourt of Nuneham. Ferrieres, the ancestor of that of Ferrars.

{4} Hako of Norway was educated by Ethelstane of England. It was Foulques le Bon, the contemporary

Count of Anjou, who, when derided by Louis IV. for serving in the choir of Tours, wrote the following retort:

"The Count of Anjou to the King of France. Apprenez, Monseigneur, qu'un roi sans lettres est une ane

{5} The Banner of Normandy was a cross till William the Conqueror adopted the lion.

{6} "Sire, soies mon escus, soies mes defendemens." Histoire des Ducs de Normandie (MICHEL).

{9} Une clef d'argent unt trovee A sun braiol estreit noee. Tout la gent se merveillont Que cete clef signifiont.

* * * * Ni la cuoule e l'estamine En aveit il en un archete, Que disfermeront ceste clavete De sol itant ert

The history of the adventures of Jumieges is literally true, as is Martin's refusal to admit the Duke to the

Dun ne t'a Deus mis e pose Prince gardain de sainte iglise E cur tenir leial justise.

{10} An attack, in which Riouf, Vicomte du Cotentin, placed Normandy in the utmost danger. He was

defeated on the banks of the Seine, in a field still called the "Pre de Battaille," on the very day of Richard's

birth; so that the Te Deum was sung at once for the victory and the birth of the heir of Normandy.

{11} "Biaus Segnors, vees chi vo segneur, je ne le vous voel tolir, mais je estoie venus en ceste ville, prendre

consel a vous, comment je poroie vengier la mort son pere, qui me rapiela d'Engletiere. Il me fist roi, il me

fist avoir l'amour le roi d'Alemaigne, il leva mon fil de fons, il me fist toz les biens, et jou en renderai au fill

{12} In a battle fought with Lothaire at Charmenil, Richard saved the life of Walter the huntsman, who had

{13} At fourteen years of age, Richard was betrothed to Eumacette of Paris, then but eight years old. In such

esteem did Hugues la Blanc hold his soninlaw, that, on his deathbed, he committed his son Hugues Capet

to his guardianship, though the Duke was then scarcely above twenty, proposing him as the model of wisdom

{14} "Osmons, qui l'enfant enseognoit l'eu mena i jour en riviere, et quant il revint, la reine Gerberge dist que

{15} "Gules, two wings conjoined in lure, or," is the original coat of St. Maur, or Seymour, said to be derived

from Osmond de Centeville, who assumed them in honour of his flight with Duke Richard. His direct

descendants in Normandy were the Marquises of Osmond, whose arms were gules, two wings ermine. In

1789 there were two survivors of the line of Centeville, one a Canon of Notre Dame, the other a Chevalier de

{16} Harald of Norway, who made a vow never to trim his hair till he had made himself sole king of the

country. The war lasted ten years, and he thus might well come to deserve the title of Horridlocks, which

was changed to that of Harfagre, or fairhaired, when he celebrated his final victory, by going into a bath at

More, and committing his shaggy hair to be cut and arranged by his friend Jarl Rognwald, father of Rollo.

{17} Richard obtained for Arnulf the restitution of Arras, and several other Flemish towns. He died eight

years afterwards, in 996, leaving several children, among whom his daughter Emma is connected with

English history, by her marriage, first, with Ethelred the Unready, and secondly, with Knute, the grandson of

his firm friend and ally, Harald Bluetooth. His son was Richard, called the Good; his grandson, Robert the

Magnificent; his greatgrandson, William the Conqueror, who brought the Norman race to England. Few

names in history shine with so consistent a lustre as that of Richard; at first the little Duke, afterwards

Richard aux longues jambes, but always Richard sans peur. This little sketch has only brought forward the

perils of his childhood, but his early manhood was likewise full of adventures, in which he always proved

himself brave, honourable, pious, and forbearing. But for these our readers must search for themselves into

early French history, where all they will find concerning our hero will only tend to exalt his character.