Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward II | Page 5

the camp which
the Northmen had begun to erect upon the bank of the river. They
offered him no violence, and he performed his errand safely. Rolf, the
rude generosity of whose character was touched by his fearless conduct,
readily agreed to spare the lives and property of the citizens, on
condition that Rouen was surrendered to him without resistance.
Entering the town, he there established his head-quarters, and spent a
whole year there and in the adjacent parts of the country, during which
time the Northmen so faithfully observed their promise, that they were
regarded by the Rouennais rather as friends than as conquerors; and
Rolf, or Rollo, as the French called him, was far more popular among
them than their real sovereign. Wherever he met with resistance, he
showed, indeed, the relentless cruelty of the heathen pirate; but where
he found submission, he was a kind master, and these qualities
contributed to gain for him an easy and rapid conquest of Neustria, as
the district of which Rouen was the capital was then called.
In the course of the following year, he advanced along the banks of the
Seine as far as its junction with the Eure. On the opposite side of the
river, there were visible a number of tents, where slept a numerous
army which Charles had at length collected to oppose this formidable
enemy. The Northmen also set up their camp, in expectation of a battle,
and darkness had just closed in on them when a shout was heard on the
opposite side of the river, and to their surprise a voice was heard
speaking in their own language, "Brave warriors, why come ye hither,
and what do ye seek?"
"We are Northmen, come hither to conquer France," replied Rollo.
"But who art thou who speakest our tongue so well?"
"Heard ye never of Hasting?" was the reply.
Hasting was one of the most celebrated of the Sea-Kings. He had
fought with Alfred in England, had cruelly wasted France, and had

even sailed into the Mediterranean and made himself dreaded in Italy;
but with him it had been as with the old pirate in the poem:
"Time will rust the sharpest sword, Time will consume the strongest
cord; That which moulders hemp and steel, Mortal arm and nerve must
feel. Of the Danish band, whom 'Earl Hasting' led, Many wax'd aged,
and many were dead; Himself found his armor full weighty to bear,
Wrinkled his brows grew, and hoary his hair; He leaned on a staff when
his step went abroad, And patient his palfrey, when steed he bestrode.
As he grew feebler, his wildness ceased, He made himself peace with
prelate and priest; He made himself peace, and stooping his head,
Patiently listen'd the counsel they said.
"'Thou hast murder'd, robb'd, and spoil'd, Time it is thy poor soul were
assoil'd; Priests didst thou slay and churches burn, Time it is now to
repentance to turn; Fiends hast thou worshipp'd with fiendish rite,
Leave now the darkness and wend into light; Oh, while life and space
are given, Turn thee yet, and think of heaven.'
"That stern old heathen, his head he raised, And on the good prelate he
steadfastly gazed, 'Give me broad lands on the "Eure and the Seine,"
My faith I will leave, and I'll cleave unto thine.' Broad lands he gave
him on 'Seine and on Eure,' To be held of the king by bridle and spear,
"For the 'Frankish' King was a sire in age, Weak in battle, in council
sage; Peace of that heathen leader he sought, Gifts he gave and quiet he
bought; And the Earl took upon him the peaceful renown, Of a vassal
and liegeman for 'Chartres' good town: He abjured the gods of heathen
race, And he bent his head at the font of grace; But such was the grizzly
old proselyte's look, That the priest who baptized him grew pale and
shook."
Such had been the history of Hasting, now Count of Chartres, who
without doubt expected that his name and example would have a great
effect upon his countrymen; but the answer to his question, "Heard ye
never of Hasting?" met with no such answer as he anticipated.
"Yes," returned Rollo; "he began well, but ended badly."

"Will ye not, then," continued the old pirate, "submit to my lord the
King? Will ye not hold of him lands and honors?"
"No!" replied the Northmen, disdainfully, "we will own no lord; we
will take no gift; but we will have what we ourselves can conquer by
force." Here Hasting took his departure, and returning to the French
camp, strongly advised the commander not to hazard a battle; but his
counsel was overruled by a young standard-bearer, who, significantly
observing, "Wolves make not war on wolves,"