Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward II | Page 9

was intended, since he was closely watched;
and one day when he had gone down to the river to bathe, the queen
had threatened him with cruel punishments if he again left the place.
Bernard immediately ordered a three days' fast, during which prayers
for the safety of the little duke were offered in every church in
Normandy, and further tidings were anxiously awaited.
In the meantime the faithful squire was devising a plan of escape. He
caused the young Richard to feign illness, and thus obtained a slight
relaxation of the vigilance with which his movements, were watched,
which enabled him to carry to the duke's apartments a great bundle of
hay. At nightfall he rolled Richard up in the midst of it, and laying it
across his shoulders, he crossed the castle court to the stable, as if he
was going to feed his horse, and as soon as it was dark he mounted,
placing the boy before him, and galloped off to a castle on the borders
of Normandy, where the rescued prince was greeted with the greatest
joy.
The escape of his ward was followed by an open declaration of war on
the part of Louis IV., upon which the Count de Harcourt sent to

Denmark to ask succor from King Harald Blue-tooth, who, mindful of
Duke William's kindness, himself led a numerous force to Normandy.
Bernard, pretending to consider this as a piratical invasion, sent to ask
Louis to assist him in expelling the heathens. Louis entered Normandy,
and came in sight of the Danish host on the banks of the river Dives,
where Harald summoned him to leave the dukedom to its rightful
owner. Louis desired a conference, and a tent was pitched between the
armies, where the two kings met.
Bernard advised the King of France not to bring Herluin de Montreuil
to this meeting, since the Normans considered him as the occasion of
their duke's death; but the French replied that no Dane should hinder
their king from taking with him whomsoever he pleased. While the two
kings were in the tent, Herluin, seeing a knight from the Cotentin, with
whom he was acquainted, went up to him and inquired after his health.
The Danes asked who he was, and the knight replied, "Count Herluin,
who caused Duke William's death;" whereupon the wild Danes rushed
upon him, and killed him with their battle-axes.
A general conflict ensued; the French were put to flight, and by the
time the kings came out of the tent, the battle was decided. Louis
mounted his horse in order to rejoin his troops, but the animal ran with
him into the midst of the enemy, where Harald caught his bridle, made
him prisoner, and delivered him to four knights to keep. While,
however, they were engaged in plundering, he made his escape, and
had ridden four leagues when he met a soldier of Rouen, whom he
bribed to hide him in an island in the Seine, until he could find a fit
opportunity of quitting Normandy. Harald and Bernard, however, by
making strict inquiries, discovered that the soldier knew where he was,
and seizing the man's wife and children, threatened to put them to death
if he did not put the king into their hands. Louis was accordingly
delivered to them, but they shortly after released him on receiving his
two sons as hostages.
The younger of the two princes died shortly after his arrival in
Normandy; and anxiety for Lothaire, the remaining son, induced his
father to come to terms with the Normans; and, at St. Clair-sur-Epte,

Louis swore to leave Richard in undisturbed possession of his lands,
and to extend the limits of the duchy as far as the banks of the Epte,
after which the young duke paid him homage, and restored his son to
him.
Richard then returned to Rouen, which he had not visited since he had
been carried to the French court, and was greeted with great joy by the
citizens, who were much delighted by his appearance, the height of his
figure, and the beauty of his countenance. The King of Denmark was
also received by them with great enthusiasm, who, after spending some
time at Rouen, returned home.
At the age of fourteen, Richard was betrothed to Emma, daughter of
Hugh the White, Count of Paris, a nobleman whose increasing power
had long been a subject of jealousy both to the court of Flanders and to
the King of France. On hearing of the intended connection between
these two mighty vassals, they united their forces to prevent it, and
called in the aid of Otho, Emperor of Germany, and Conrad, King of
Burgundy.
While Louis and Conrad attacked the Count, Otho and Arnulf entered
Normandy, and laid siege to Rouen, but