trouvère, or to chronicler as poetic and wonder-loving as they. But who knows how much of all this is true? or who, on the other hand, can venture to say it is all false? Strange things have happened in the world, and some of the earliest poetry sprang out of fact. Let us pass, however, to what is undoubted. Louis invested young Richard in his duchy, and assumed (with Osmond as a governor) the charge of his youth. But the Normans distrusted the French king, and many of them became the lieges of Hugues, his turbulent vassal, -playing, thus, Hugues against him. King Louis, in self-defence, treated with Hugues in his turn; secured his alliance by the promise of Bayeux; rallied to his side Arnulf and Herluin and their followers, and several Bishops of Burgundy with theirs; and filled Normandy with invading troops preparatory to its subjection and partition.

The peril was imminent. The enemy burst through Normandy, pillaging churches and convents on their way, and for a moment it seemed as if the noble duchy of the sea-kings would become an inferior part of France. In this crisis, the Norman gentlemen displayed consummate address-that combined audacity and dexterity so characteristic of their race. Bernard the Dane was instantly commissioned to wile away from Louis the advantage of the situation, by inducing him to accept the fealty of the Normans, himself, and

throw over-board the great vassal to whom he had given the Bessin and Bayeux. Louis agreed; was received in Rouen with shouts of joy and ringing of bells; ordered Hugues to give up the Bessin, and went himself to receive the homage of Bayeux. From thence proceeded to Evreux with the same object, and so returned to Rouen,-the betrayed Hugues meanwhile vowing vengeance.

At this crisis there was stationed, at a place called Chieresborc, in the Cotentin-(a place very celebrated now, and likely to be more so under its modern name of Cherbourg)-a Danish fleet. The commander of this fleet was Harald,-in all probability, though it is not entirely certain, Harald Blaatand (Black-tooth, or Bluetooth)-King of Denmark, and grandfather of our famous King Canute. When he came, or why he came, is uncertain. The story of what he did is variously told, according as the narrator is Norman or Frank, and it is only with approximate certainty that we can fix the year as 945.* But the results of his arrival are clear. He helped his kinsmen to free themselves. "Noble Norse valour" was once more brought into play the French were beaten; the King taken; the province rescued. Young Richard-now a brilliant,

* See the story well discussed in Depping, liv. 4, 1, and Appendices. Sismondi, "Hist. des Français," iii. 424, et seq.

promising boy-prince-was restored to his people and to Normandy, and Louis did not escape until he had once more renewed the grant of the Duchy in the memorable village of St. Clair-sur-Epte. Long afterwards, on a still more memorable scene, the greatest man of Rou's line referred to that interview. It was amongst the topics with which William the Conqueror refreshed the proud memories of his chivalry before launching them at Hastings on the Saxon lines.

Richard Sans-Peur was now an independent duke. He had his own place and policy in Europe, and knew how to maintain them. He allied himself with Count Hugues, whose daughter Emma-early betrothed to him he married in 960. The Normans were undoubtedly among the chief supports of the Capetian dynasty; and it is not the least important of their achievements that they mainly helped to place a new and lasting family on the throne of France.* So just was the presentiment of sorrow with which the great Charlemagne had gazed on their sails.

Richard was a true Norman, of the modern Norman character, which during his long reign established itself as a new type. Old Norse daring, modern feudal accomplishment, were united in him. He had the personal beauty of his line; its kindness for the Church;

* Palgrave's "Normandy," ii. 773; Sismondi, iv. 65.

its love of splendour-perhaps a dash of the gay vanity which glittered in a Norman's character, like a plume in his helm. He loved to have his barons about him, and would make them presents of Spanish horses* -laying the foundation of that Norman cavalry which presently became so important. His fearlessness by night and day was proverbial, and won him his name of Sans-Peur. "Twas a quality that he required during a life of which much was necessarily spent in war. No sooner were the fiançailles between him and Emma,— sixteen years prior in date to their marriage-known, than a league was formed against him by Louis, Arnulf, and Otho, but this resulted harmlessly, through their mutual distrust. Thibault of Chartres invaded him, and was repulsed from the gates of Rouen to the Norman shout of Diex aïe! He was obliged to call in the Danes to help him against continual Frank hostility, and coming up the Seine they established an immense place of safety and booty at Geufosse. The Bishop of Chartres came to appeal to Richard. Would not he, good Christian, kindly friend of the Church, save Christian men from these brawny pagans, reeking of heathenism, salt-water, and strong ale? Richard shrugs his shoulders. "Why force me, then!" The bishop proceeded to mediate between the duke and his enemies, -chiefly Thibault, called "the Trickster,"-the most

* Roman de Rou.

slippery potentate of his time. Sans-Peur drew off his Norse sea-dogs,—not without difficulty, for they had got to like the mild air and plentiful provisions about Geufosse. They say that the duke displayed astonishing eloquence (always a Norman gift) in talking their leaders over, one fine moonlight night, and the trouvères long afterwards pretended to give the entire oration. Some of the vikings settled under him, to merge into Christian gentlemen by-and-by. Others took to their dear old sea again, laden with spoil, made for Spain, began the ancient game of churchpillaging, and came to a bad end, there being a vigorous hidalgo in command in those parts.

Such was the kind of work which Richard had to do -work requiring a good head and a strong arm. He had, unquestionably, the governing talent of his family. He served the Church, too,-founding St. Ouen at Rouen, St. Michael de Monte, and the abbey of Fécamp, at which he died. The clergy induced him at last to marry "Gunnora" in proper Christian fashion (so at least the Norman chroniclers say), and he ended his long reign, peaceably, in 996,-the same year which witnessed the death of Hugh Capet.

Richard Sans-Peur's reign is of importance in our history, for in it we find for the first time, lords of Gournay, whose existence is testified to by charter. Eudes and Hugh we know from tradition only; but the