The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-28


gaining for that brave champion Of the
Cross the Duchy of Normandy, which
was his by hereditary right. The Pope,
without taking one side or the other,
meditated between the rival monarchs
and decided that the King of England
should remain in possession Of Norman
dy, on condition of his son doing homage
for 1t to France. All efforts to obtain
some settlement in favor of Clito proved
futile. He had nothing left but the per-
sonal friendship of Louis and that nobil-
ity Of soul which teaches the brave spirit
never to hold counsel with despair.
However, this princely youth, in spite
of unpropitious fortune and false friends
lin spite of having to eat the bread and
climb the stairs of another, continued to
grow day by day in favor and popularity.
He, unlike his father, was 90 prudent in
pecuniary matters that people called him
miser; but he was loved and admired
by all who knew him, and especially the
Normans, who regarded him with pride
as the darling of their nation. His inn
mediate prospects were not cheering, it
was true, but hope could still gid the
future; and now that the son of Beau
elerc was no more, the probability of
William Clito yet wearing the coronal OF
Normandy and the crown Of England
was not out Of the question. A great
oonfederacy of continental princes was
already forming with the object of vindi-
eating his right, when transaction, most
characteristic Of Beauclerc, precipitated
the inevitable crisis
The Earl of Flanders having been slain
by conspirators at the foot of the altar,
the King of France, an hege lord, entered
the country to punish the assassins. In
this expedition Clito accompanied his
royal brother-in-hw, and Louis conferred
upon him the vacant earldom. As heir
of Matilda of Flanders the Oonquerors
Queen, Chto's hereditary claim was un-
exceptionable; and the Flemish people
offered no opposition to their new earl.
The King of France having seen his
nominee fairly installed, took his de-
parture, under the impression that his
young relative was secure, and in a
favorable position for prosecuting his de-
signs on Normandy. But scarcely was
the Kings back turned when the Flem-
ings formed a conspiracy, and sent for
aid to the English monarch, whose ruling
passion now was to accomplish his
nephew's ruin.
Clito was at Ypres when the conspira-
cy was formed, and the Flemings resolved
to attack by night the fort where he lay.
1t happened, however, that the hand
some prince had inspired young lady
of the town Of Ypres with romantic at
tachment; and she. on becoming aware
of what was intended, rushed to his pres
ence, and with tears revealed the plot.
Upon becoming aware Of this, Clito
hastily left Ypres with his friends, and
taking the damsel with him, caused her
to be escorted to William, Duke of
Aquitaine, with request that she should
be provided with suitable husband. AZ
ter this he prepared for action.
The Flemings said in their haste: "This
is a mere tyro in war" They forgot, in
their conceit and self-sufficiency, the bat
ties, fortunes, and sieges Clito had passed,
and deluded themselves with the antici-
patton Of an easy victory. He soon con-
vinced them how deeply they were mis-
taken, and scattered their misdirected
host.
One summer night-so chroniclers as
sert-poor, old, blind Robert, who for
well-nigh twenty years had known no
mate but misery, while sleeping in his
dungeon at Cardiff, dreamed that his son
was mortally wounded with lance in
his arm, and next morning exclaimed
mournfully to his keeper: ..
"Alas! / fear my son is dead" .
1t soon appeared that his dream had
come through that gate Of horn Of which
poets have sung. While engaged in a
sharp skirmish with the garrison Of Alost,
Clito, catching at the lance Of an antag-
onist, was slightly cut under the ball OF
his right thumb. The wound, which at
first appeared a mere scratch, ere long
from neglect or improper treatment, pro
duced modification. .. -
/ Aware that his last hour was approach
ing, Clito wrote TO his uncle, implorine
pardon for those Normans who had fol
lowed his fortunes. Having discharged
this duty, the gallant Prince expired OF
the 9th day Of July, 1928.