Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-04-29

of Edward King of England, and of the ell
ovation of Harold, son of Goodwin, to the va
cant throne. He suddenly became thought
| full, passed the bow to one of his men, eros
sed the Seine, and repaired to his hotel at
Rouen. There he paced the great hall back
wards ard forwards, now sitting down, now
hastily rising again, agtated by mighty
thought which would not let him rest any
where Sire" said one of his officers most
familiar with him, why should YOU conceal
from US the noss Il IS eomppnly report
led in the cit, hat the King 81 England is
dead, and that Harold, breaking his faith
with thee, has seized the kingdom. "--"They
say true; my chagrin is caused by Edwards
death, and the wrong done me by Harold"
-" Well, Sire, do not be angry about
thing which can be mended For Edwards
death there is no remedy; but for Harolds
wrong there is Yours is the good right
and you have valiant knights. Undertake
boldly that which is boldly undertaken is
half accomplished"
Soon after this messenger from Norman
dy addressed King Harold in these words:
-" William, Duke of the Normans, sends
to remind thee of the oath which thou hast
sworn to him with thy mouth and with thy
hand upon good and holy relics" -" IT'S
true" replied the Saxon king, /" that took
an oath to Williams but | took it under
constraint. / promised what did not belong
to me-a promise which could not in any
way perform. My royal authority is not my
own. l could not lay it down against the
will of the country; nor can | against the
will of the country take foreign wife. AS
for my sister, whom the Duke claims that
he may marry her to one of his chiefs, she
has died within the year: Would he have
me send her corpse %
The first step William took for the estab-
lishment of his claim to the crown of Eng
land, was to arraign the king for sacrilege
before the Roman court, demanding that
England should be laid under an interdct,
and declared the property of him who should
first take possession, subject to the Popes
: approval. Though Harold disdained to de-
fend himself before foreign tribunal against
one who had violated hospitality and con-
verted holy things into snare, the question
was solemnlv adjudicated by the cardinals,
at that time guided and controlled by Hill
debrand, to whose gigantic scheme of uni
versal temporal as well as spiritual domina-
ton this quarrel might be made subservient.
The sentence pronounced was, that William
I Duke of Normandy had right to enter
England, and bring it into obedience to the
: Holy See; and to re-estabish for ever the
> tax of Peters pence Harold and all his
: adherents were communicated by papal
i bull, which was transmitted to William by
the hands of his envoy, with the gift of a
u banner, which had received the Apostolic
blessing.
In tl,a Al
. liam convoked great assembly of the men
= of all classes in Normandy, of warriors,
Il priests, and merchants, who possessed the
. greatest wealth and consideration. To them
II he unfolded his project, and solicited their
. assistance. Having retired for deliberation,
there arose among them violent difference
/ of opinion, and words ran high. The ma
{ ority declared" Whatever he has to per-
y form in his own country we will assist him
U in as it is our duty to do; but we are not
: bound to aid him in conquering the country
u of others. Besides, if we were once to of.
c fer him double knights service, and to fol-
, low him beyond the sea, he would make i,
y , a custom and right for the future, and would
" use it to Cypress our children. 1t cannot
5 and it shall not be sop Groups of ten
= twenty and thirty, began to collect togeth.
:, er and dispute the tumult became general
u and the meeting separated without coming
\ to any decision,
D. William, though surprised and enraged al
lie this result, suppressed his feelings, and a
dopted plan which has rarely failed in the
II hands of men in power to overcome popu
T. lar resistance. He sent for the leaders o
le the opposition, and conversed with them sep
u arately, entreatng them as personal favou
&c to assist him in the expedition, and promis
!, ing them rich rewards. No one had heart
Vi when thus solicited, to refuse his sovereign
u in such an emergency One subscribed 70
ID vessels, another for well-appointed men-at
~ arms; and many promised to accompan.
~ him in person. The priests gave their mo
a. ney, the merchants their stuifs, the countr,
'e people their provisions. At this juncturt
. the consecrated banner authorizing the in
IL vasion, arrived from Rome This visible
io token of what the age considered divine
10 2 sanction, added sacredness to the cause, ant
Vi kinded the enthusiasm of the multitude
Mothers now sent their sons to enlist for tn
p salvation of their souls William had hi
OF proclamation of war speedily published il
vs. the neighbouring countries, offering goo
'h pay and the plumber of England to ever
III tall and stout man who would serve hr
az with spear, sword, or cross-bow. A multi
Oh tude came by all roads from far and near
y from Maine, Anjou, Potion, Brittany
~ France, Aquitaine, Burgundy, Piedmont
10 and the banks of the Rhine. "All the ad
IN venturers by profession, all the outcasts G
u " Western Europe, came eagerly and by for
RI ced marches. Some were cavaliers; other
a simply foot soldiers. Some asked pay il
us money-others only for apassage and all tn
g. booty they could make. Many stipulate
an for land among the English--a demesne,
N- castle, or town, while others would be sal
on isfied with some rich Saxon woman for
Il; wife. William rejected no one, but promis
'ss ed favours to all, according to his ability.
IL One Remi ofFescamp fancied Saxon bisl
- opric, and William gave him one in prospeC
on his furnishing ship and 20 men-at-arm
III The fleet assembled at the mouth of tn
49, Dive, where it was detained month by III
y, favourable winds, During this dispirtin
ire delay, sickness and death began to thin tn
"a a. Norman ranks. The soldiers murmured an
II repented of the nterprise-exclaiminl
-e' "Mad and foolish is the man who seeks
III possess himself of another's kingdom &c