The Little Duke: Richard the Fearless. Yonge Charlotte Mary

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      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 Jumièges, 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 iron-work.  It was locked, and putting in the key, it fitted, the lock turned, and the chest was opened.  The Normans pressed eagerly to see their Duke’s greatest treasure.

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

      “Ha! is this all?  What didst say, child?” cried Bernard the Dane, hastily.

      “He told me it was his greatest treasure!” repeated Richard.

      “And it was!” said Abbot Martin.

      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 Jumièges, when he had suddenly come on the ruins of the Abbey, which had been wasted thirty or forty years previously by the Sea-King, Hasting.  Two old monks, of the original brotherhood, still survived, and came forth to greet the Duke, and offer him their hospitality.

      “Ay!” said Bernard, “well do I remember their bread; we asked if it was made of fir-bark, like that of our brethren of Norway.”

      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 Jumièges, 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 poverty and patient suffering which he should have reverenced.

      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.

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      1

      Richard’s place of education was Bayeaux; for, as Duke William says in the rhymed Chronicle of Normandy,—

      “Si à 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 à tele escole

      Qù l’en le sache endoctriner

      Que as Daneis sache parler.

      Ci ne sevent riens fors Romanz

      Mais à Baieux en à tanz

      Qui ne sevent si Daneis non.”

      2

      Bernard was founder of the family of Harcourt of Nuneham.  Ferrières, the ancestor of that of Ferrars.

      3

      In the same Chronicle, William Longsword directs that,—

      “Tant seit apris qu’il lise un bref

      Kar ceo ne li ert pas trop gref.”

      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, Mons

1

Richard’s place of education was Bayeaux; for, as Duke William says in the rhymed Chronicle of Normandy,—

“Si à Roem le faz garderE norir, gaires longementIl ne saura parlier neiantDaneis, kar nul n l’i parole.Si voil qu’il seit à tele escoleQù l’en le sache endoctrinerQue as Daneis sache parler.Ci ne sevent riens fors RomanzMais à Baieux en à tanzQui ne sevent si Daneis non.”

2

Bernard was founder of the family of Harcourt of Nuneham.  Ferrières, the ancestor of that of Ferrars.

3

In the same Chronicle, William Longsword directs that,—

“Tant seit apris qu’il lise un brefKar ceo ne li ert pas trop gref.”

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 âne couronné.”

5

The Banner of Normandy was a cross till William the Conqueror adopted the lion.

6

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