HOW A NORMAN BECAME KING OF ENGLAND

One of the earliest memories of William of Normandy was of being dressed handsomely and led into the castle hall, where he found his father and a number of other men. The boy heard his father say: “This is my son. He is little, but he will grow.” Then these men, one by one, knelt before the boy, laid their hands in his, and promised to be faithful to him. He was only seven or eight years old, but he understood the meaning of this ceremony, namely, that they were now bound to fight for him if he called upon them.

The father of the child was Robert, Duke of Normandy, one of the successors of Rollo the Northman. Some of the Normans called the duke “Robert the Devil.” More than one crime was laid to his charge, but, according to the belief of the day, these would all be forgiven if he only made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem; and this he was about to do. Robert died on the journey, and the boy became Duke of Normandy.

Those were stormy times in Normandy. Many a man would not have hesitated a moment to kill the child in the hope of getting possession of his inheritance, and among them were some of the very nobles who had sworn to be faithful to him. Others realized what horrors of warfare the death of this boy would bring upon the duchy, and they guarded him with their lives. He could never be left alone a moment for fear of poison or assassination. Sometimes he was caught up in the night and carried from one castle to another. Sometimes he was hidden away for safety in the cottage of his grandfather; for his mother was the daughter of a peasant. The King of France, to whom he paid homage for his duchy, had promised in return to protect him; but the king was beginning to be jealous of the strength of Normandy. He did not realize, however, how powerful it was, and after William became a man, the king swept into the duchy with his forces, expecting to conquer it at a dash. On the contrary, he was driven from the land so promptly that he was only too glad to make peace.

William was able also to make his peace with the Pope. The duke had married Matilda of Flanders, although for some reason that is not clearly understood the Pope had objected. He was after some years persuaded to confirm the marriage on condition that William and Matilda would build four hospitals, one in each of the four chief towns of Normandy, and also one convent for men and one for women.

Life was now moving more easily for William, but his greatest adventure still lay before him. This is the way it came about. A few years before William was born, his great aunt and her husband were driven from the English throne and with their two little boys fled to Normandy. Edward, the elder of the two boys, was twenty-five years older than the young duke, and he promised William that if he ever became King of England, he would bequeath him the English crown. It did not seem to enter his mind that the English people might have a word to say about the matter.

William never forgot this promise of King Edward, and he watched every movement of the people across the English Channel. One of the most prominent of these people was Earl Harold, son of a powerful noble. Edward had at last begun to suspect that the English would not accept a foreigner as king, and his thoughts, as well as the wishes of the English people, turned toward Harold. William had learned this, and when one day Harold went out sailing and a storm drove his boat upon the coast of Normandy, William’s mind was made up just what course to follow.

Day after day passed in royal entertainment for the visitor, with feasts, games, hunting, hawking, even a choice bit of warfare, for William invited his guest to help him subdue a disobedient vassal. On the way home from this amusement, they were riding along side by side when William began to talk of the days when King Edward lived at his father’s castle. “He was like an older brother to me,” said the duke, “and he promised to bequeath me his crown if he should ever become King of England. There may be difficulties in the way, and if you will promise me your aid, I promise in return to do for you whatever you may ask of me.”

Harold well knew that if he refused he would probably be thrown into one of the dungeons in William’s castle, and he made the promise. A few days later, William invited him to come to an assembly of the barons. A table covered with cloth of gold stood before the duke. On it were two reliquaries, or caskets holding relics of the saints. “Harold,” said William, “you have already promised to aid me in gaining the throne of England. I ask you now to swear to this on these relics of the saints and in the presence of my barons.” Harold laid his hands on the two reliquaries and took the oath. To swear on the bones of the less important saints was looked upon as a sin, of course, but a sin for which one might by doing penance win forgiveness, and probably Harold had no idea of keeping his promise; but suddenly the cloth of gold was removed, and he was aghast to see that he had sworn on a great tub full to the brim of the most sacred relics of the Church in Normandy.

Early in 1066 King Edward died, and Harold was made king. William at once sent a swift messenger to say to him, “William, Duke of Normandy, recalls to you the oath that you swore to him on the relics of the saints.” Harold replied: “An oath sworn under compulsion is not binding. Moreover, the kingship belongs not to me, but to the country. I cannot put it from me without the country’s consent.”

Then began mighty preparations for conquest. Many hundred vessels were brought together at the mouth of the Dive River, and many thousand men crossed the Channel. The battle which followed was called the battle of Hastings, because it was fought seven miles from Hastings. The Normans marched on toward the hill of Senlac, where the English were drawn up. There were slingers and archers in the Norman lines. There were the heavy-armed infantry; there were knights with sword and lance. There was even a warlike bishop, William’s half-brother. The Church forbade him to use sword or spear for the shedding of blood, but he persuaded himself that it was not unlawful to swing a club. The duke himself bore neither lance nor javelin, but a heavy iron mace, a terrible weapon in the hands of so powerful a man.

Suddenly a rider galloped out in front of the Norman line, Taillefer, the minstrel. “My lord,” he said to William, “I have served you long. Reward me this day for my services. Grant me to strike the first blow in the battle.” “I grant it!” cried William. Then the minstrel sang the old ballads of Roland at Roncesvalles. He tossed his sword into the air and caught it as it fell. He made his horse curvet and caracole. Wheeling about, he galloped up to the lines of the English, thrust his lance through one man, cut down another with his sword, and in another moment himself lay dead, struck down by many an English weapon.

This was the beginning of a battle which made William of Normandy King of England. It was also the beginning of the holding of English land by French dukes, and of French land by English sovereigns. Of course this was bound to make trouble between the two countries, and it was five hundred years before England was forced to surrender the last bit of her French possessions.