The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-06
Continued from 1st page.l

derer. And, in accents Of burning scorn and
hatred, Bernard the Dane rejoined:
"Ay, Richard, that is Arnulf's youngest son;
the only hostage that we hold in pledge of just
ice for your fathers death-the justice that
King Louis promised usI Longsword has lain
these four years in his grave yet Arnuf, ac-
cursed wretch, goes free and unrebuked before
all meni He has no intention of atoning for
his crime, though he sent that worthless boy
as a pretended hostage; even so slight pledge
he never would have given if he had not been
forced to it by Alan of Brittany. He well
knows the King will never call him to &C
count!"
The bitterness of Bernard's language could
not hide the grief that made his stern voice
tremble, when he spoke the name of his muir
dered Lord and friend; but grief, in such
heart seemed only to make his hatred more
relentless.
It was not so with Richard; his face was
grave, and his voice was low and sad, but he
only said:
''If the King had kept his word, that could
not make my father any happier in Heaven,
Bernard. But thought Duke Alan held two
other hostages, besides the Count of Arras."
He did, my Lord; and both of them were
Barons of high standing in Flanders. We had
some hope that Arnulf would yet be brought to
justice, while we retained these men for host"
ages; but they are gone"
Gomez" said Richard.
"Ay, my Lord, they have escaped and fled
to England, as we heard at Rouen. The news
came from Alan himself"
1t may be we'll to explain that in those times,
when a King or a great Lord made an impor
tant agreement with another party, he was usu-
ally required TO bind the bargain by surrender
ing one or more of his vassals, or, more fre-
quently, his children-person at least, whose
lives he valued highly-to be held as hostages,
or pledges for the keeping Of his engagement;
so little confidence had these Lords of the feu-
dal era in the reliability of each others prom
ses.
The hostages thus given were held as honor
able guests, and not as prisoners, but with the
understanding that a breach of faith would be
the warrant for their imprisonment, or death.
Thus, the King who had made a promise to
some powerful vassal, and given his son as
hostage for its keeping, would not be very
likely to break his word, knowing that the
consequences of his had faith would be visited
on the head of his own child.
In accordance with this custom, William
Longsword's people had required the King to
give them hostages for the fulfllment of his
promise to punish the murderer of their Lord.
In this instance he had chosen two of Count
Arnulf's own yassais-the Barons of whom
Bernard spoke-and placed them in the hands
of Alan, the Duke of Brittany, who, though a
conquered yassal, had been warmly attached
TO Longsword, and rendered willing homage to
Richard, for his fathers sake.
Some time after Williams death, finding that
Louis delayed bringing his murderer to trial,
ON one pretext and another, Alan had threat
ened to hang the two Barons; and TO save their
lives, they had induced their Lord, Count Ar
nulf, to send his youngest sou, as further
hostage, to the Breton Duke. As this appeared
to be personal pledge that he would make
atonement Alan was pacified.
IL ol-ad El,ar III H.
erty aud all the privileges OF rank and power
without rebuke, as Bernard said, before all
men" his GnOffending WAS helpless in the
power of those whom had injured, and liable
| tosuaer the penalty of death, which he escaped.
A queer specimen of feudal justice this may
well seem to US, and We shall be glad to find
| that Richard, our Boy Duke, was not in favor
| of such a state of things.
As it now appeared the son of Arnulf was in
| immediate peril, for the Count of Rouen con-
| tinued
Doubtless Duke Alan has sent word to
| Flanders that he viii put the remaining hos
tage to death unless the Barons are returned to
| him"
| Richard turned the glance of his grave blue
| eyes upon the Flemish burgher.
Is that the case, Master Herman ?" he in
| quired.
ERIC IS DOOMED TO DIE.
"Yes, Duke Richard" replied the burgher,
! in broken voice. " Eric is doomed to die Un-
| less Count Arnulf sends the Barons back to
| Brittany, and that he cannot do, he says Alas
| fear he would not. if he could"
| What" cried Richard; would he rather
| leave his own son to perish?"
| AYE. that he would, III be bound T" ex-
! claimed the Baron of Centoville. "Arnulf the
| Wicked has no care for anything on earth save
| his own interest and two stout Barons are worth
| more to him than one half-gr0wn boy, though
| it be his own son. Alan may hang the lad for
| all that such father will ever do tosave him.
| is he so young?" said Richard.
| But little older than yourself Duke Rich
ard; gentle boy, that would not harm the
weakest thing alive" said Master Herman. g l
| never knew him to be guilty of q base or cruel
deed, and have known him all his life"
| Your foster-son, you called him? ?"
Yes, Duke Richard. He was given to my
| care soon after he was born; for he was q
weakly babe, aud my wife is well known for
| her skill in the lore of nursing and medicine,
and such matters. And she brought him up
| strong and healthy, for all he was so feeble as
| a child. There was not a youth in Arras could
| beat him at any manly sport or exercise We
| taught him to be good" the burgher said, with
| tears fast rolling down his bearded cheeks
| but we could not instruct him in the use OF
arms or the customs and manners of nobility.
| We of ArraS are all plain artisans and simple
| burghers; we know naught of such things; 50
l"they took him away to be educated elsewhere
in manner beftting his birth. 1t was a sad day
when he left us, for there was not a soul within
! the walls of Arras that did not love the boy
| Alas the next we heard of him"
Bernard the Dane, who had risen from the
| board and stood listening with impatience tC
the burgher's narrative, interrupted him at this
point, saying harshly:
'All this is nothing to the Duke of Nor
| mandy"
The poor burgher turned pale but taking
| courage when he saw the pitying look on
Richards face, he cried:
"Is it nothing to one so young and noble as
| the Duke of Normandy, that such another boy
| guiltless of any crime, lies wasting in dungeon
where no ray of light can reach him, tor,
tured with cold and hunger, and none but
merciless jaiIer to behold his misery? Such i:
the fate that Eric suffers, if Alan's messenger
| to Flanders told the truth, !" said Master Her.
man, with a choking voice and a face which