New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-23

king of YYetot" in the neighbOrhood of Boil
bee and lest his favorite might starve. William
also gave him the rich estate OF Taillanviile.
Everybody looked upon the coronation as a joke.
But King Ansfred himself knew better. No
sooner had he acquired possession of his realm
than ne built himself tower there. and set
about planting the naked lands. His trees grew.
and presently vineyards were laid out little
village made its appearance where all had Deen
waste. But all attempts 10 sink wells or supply
his dominions with water were sterny forbidden
by the king. Always till he died Ansfred re-
tanned his sovereign style and title, and the Con-
querOrs sons being busy with urgent anairS oil
their own. nobody tried to take ii from him HIS
son and heir. King Richard. went to the CRU
sades in 1896 and fought with such bravery
that the Pope confirmed to him the dignity OF
monarch.
false there is doubt that in l32l direct
descendant of Ansfred and Richard was in pos
session Of YyetOt and was known IN deeds OF
the period as "Jehan. Roy dYvetost ct Sieur de
TailanviUe" Here Fact steps in to take lie
gend by the hand. After 1921 the succession OF
the Kings OF Yvetot may be proved from the
archives at Paris and ROuen, as well as from
current history. =,
known to fame as "JeannOt the Dancer This
monarch we are told. was the most nimple lord
in all Normandy on one occasion ne oanceu
from Yvetot 10 Rouen, distance OF eighteen
miles In the end he danced away with the
heart Of a rich bride, Jeanne de Bouroet. nelress
of the Chateau de la Rviere Bourdet. rms cas-
tie sill. STANDS IN the commune VI 81 N"" N'"'
near Rouen and in the great hail you may see
the arms of "Jeannot the Dancer. with the IN
scrjpton "Jehan, ROi ct Sieur d'YVetot
King Jeannot became a wealthy man TOT MS
Time IN Normandy. He drew rents to the amount
of 100 liyres a year (abOut f4-but, of course,
money meant far more in those days., besides
The tribute he levied upon all persons passing
through his doninions His son. Jean III, rose
to even greater heights of power Tor the hing
of France himself. in 1881, formally acknowi-
edged his little neighbours rights 10 ne Ming
and ord nj l.Dr0 Id
end of TaillanVlie. with rights OF the High ana
Low Justice, of coming moneys. OF MAKING
knights and Of absolute life and death over an
his subjects" The document, signed py ChdileS
WI the year after his accession. still survives.
But Yvetots history reached IT'S zenith IN the
reign of Martin l. son Of this Jean ia. Ming
Martin was q very small man. but his heart was
c,-eat and not satisfied with remaining peace
fully at home as his fathers had done. ne oe-
sir ed to be a king in earnest Accordingly. ne
raised miniature army and went 10 VISIT ms
GOOD cousin" the crazy Charles OF France. the
visit only filled Martin with envy. and on ms
return ne began to coin money-whch was his
n,i,,iIege but which made him the laughing
stork of France None of these coins remain.
hut there is in the Cluny Museum medal
struck by His Majesty. The medal represents
the King seated upon sort OF dais. giving the
accoIade of knghthood to one of his subjects-in
Doint Of fact to the village tavern-keeper and
wine-selIer. a worthy named Booee me King
wears a plain cap surrounded ny cnapiet. ana
ON the reverse OF the medal are the words:
sM art Rex Ivetost, J. Bodice Vim. fecit Escut.
which. being translated out of the quaint Latin.
means: Martin, King of Yvetot, made a Knight
Of i Robee the innkeeper." One wonders what
specialIy fine old wine it was that led to this
honor There are Bobees In and around Yvetot
still and the writer talked with one ola peasant
Who boasted of his descent from the original
boniface of whom King Martin made knight.
But poor Martins final folly ended in dire dis
aster He lofty invited the mad King Charles
vi 10 visit him a brother in his palace at
Yyetot" The King OF France came. and with
him came "all the Kings horses and all the
Kings men" Some were lodged an the palace
IT Yvetot; some stayed at the Chateau OF Tall