Middletown transcript., 1891-03-05
THE BOY gONQUEROR
BIZ FRED. nYnos coLAY.

BIZ BRED. MYRoN coLAY.
If one had been in the old cnstle OF
Falaise. Normandy, on certain day
as long ago as the year 1884, he
would have beheld q brave and
brilliant spectacle. In the great hall
Of the castle. low and dimly lighted.
but gaudy with banners and suits of
mail, were assembled all the chieftains
Of Normandy to do homage to o boy
of nine years. He stood upon a dais
beside his father, under canopy of
purple and gold emblazoned every
where with cross gules, a stately,
handsome little fellow whose long.
flowing. brown eurls fell upon his
short scarlet tunic that was fastened
by an embroidered belt in which was
beautiful gold.handled dagger, and
whose black eyes followed with keen
intelligence, every act Of the page
antry doue in his honor. One after
another of the stern barons, cased all
in link mail, advanced before the
dais, knelt and kissed the hand of the
boy and swore to be true and loyal
liegemen to their loyal young prince,
only SON and heir to the great duke,
Robert the Magnificent, sixth from
Duke RoHo.
When all was oyer, the duke, one
Of the greatest potentates of his day,
clad in his armor Of linked-steel
chain work, the gilded spur on his
heel, and his head covered by his
ducal cap Of purple, turned up with
fur, and feather fastened in it by a
jeweled clasp, stood forward and ad-
dressed his vassals. He told them
that he was going to leave Normandy
to 60 on a pilgrimage to the Holy
Land, that he should be absent many
months, and, in fact, might never re-
turn. From this time forth, he
said, in conclusion, !" | give him
seizin (possession) of the dukedom of
the Normans as my own acknow-
lodged heir. Moreover, I appoint
Alan, my cousin of Brittany governor
of Normandy in my name until !
shall return, and in case | shall not
return, in the name of William my
SON, until he shall become OF manly
age"
And now there was a renewal OF
pledges, and stout duke ofthe Bretons
stepped to the dais, drew his sword
from his scabbard, kissed the blade
and laid it at the feet of the princely
child, swearing that it would be true
to him, but would be death to his
foes. After this there was great
spread in the dining hall, and the
ceremonies ended by the Norman
barons drinking as much mead as was
good for them.
A few days after this Duke Robert
started on his pilgrimage. He took
his heir and son as far as Paris with
him, where he was presented to the
French king, to whom he did homage,
after the manner of the age, for his
duchy. There was great deal oi
pomp and parade about the ceremony
you may be sure, and young William
was somewhat awed at the splendor
Of the scene. But King Henry was
much struck with the beauty and
noble bearing of the boy, anc
promised to exercise a sort Of parental
care over the young prince. Then
bidding his brave little son farewell
\ the Norman Duke continued his
| Journey to the Holy Land.
It reads like romance, the story
Of the Dukes journey to the East
At Rome, after performing various
services and duties connected with his
pilgrimage, he threw aside his pill
erim's dress, and travelled in the mos
magnificent style. 1t was very
popular Just then for the great mobiles
to make journeys to Jerusalem, but
none never went with more dignity
and state than robert of Normandy
The chroniclers tell the story tina
when he and his train Of knights
entered Constantinople their horses
beside being gorgeously caparisoned
had shoes Of gold on instead of iron
and these shoes were purposely at
tached SO slightly to the hoofs tha
they were shaken off as the animals
walked along, to be picked up by thu
astonished populace. Another story
impresses us quite as much with th,
Normans' wit and courtesy as witt
their wealth and splendor. On on
occasion the Greek Emporer invites
the Duke and his company to feas
in the great hall of the imperia
palace, but took care to have all th'
tables and seats filled with guest
before the arrival of the Normans, o
whom he commanded there should b
no notice taken. When the Duk
and his followers entered the hall, OBJ
serving that all the seats were fillec
and that no one offered them accom-
mediation, he walked, without th
least appearance of discontinue to |
vacant part Of the hall, took off hi
rich cloak, folded and placed it unde
Al L