Heroines of the Crusades

the disc

he death-fe

lore, can pa

of blesse

d powerful husbands of the Conqueror's choice. The young Count and Countess of Blois, whose castles were numerous as the days in the year, determined to make a festive progre

fore her departure, she visited the cloister of the palmer, and acquainted him with his pr

he countess, "I have

"If it lieth in my poor abil

d Maude, is interred at the four cross-roads, without the gates of Winchester; when thou takest possession of thy benefice, as so

dily promise

lt be compelled to marry her to Simon. Soften, as much as possible, her ha

ne," said Ingul

I would

knelt at the feet of the venerable man, and with the

de, as the bride of Simon. Robert sailed, also, in the same vessel, being commissi

ore than any of the sons, comprehended the poli

The early death of the princess Adeliza, the failing health of Constance, together with fresh dissensions in her

s of William, so that according to the English chroniclers, "He became, after her death, a thorough tyrant." He passed the

almost the only home occupation of females. A shade of sadness was upon her brow, and an expression of anxious

ears in the girl's eyes. "Thou hast a tiresome task. Remove these frames," continued she to th

to his mother, and laying his head

hy younger brothers despise thy imbecility-the courtiers regard thee with indifference-and the

e slumberer. He lifted his head, moaned heavily, and

med the countess, the joy of former

ank greeting of his sister, and throwing himself upon a se

ounsel of our mother dwells with thee. I am ro

Normandy," inquired hi

dom of Normandy,' said he, 'I granted unto my son Robert, and having received the homage of his baronage, th

said the countess with a l

d woe he had wrought in England, protested that he had so misused that fair and beautiful land, tha

ing," said the Countess, "since

in Germany, little thinking that my father's illness would terminate so suddenly, the red

der sons were thus employed, the young Henry watc

to place it in the grave, there stood forth an insolent noble, and forbade the interment. 'This spot,' said he, 'was the site of my father's house, which this dead duke took violently from him, and here upon part of my inheritance founded this church. This ground I therefore challenge, and charge ye all as ye shall answer it at the great and dreadful day of judgment, that ye lay not the bones of the destroyer on the hearth

sh I were an eremite, and unless thy clear wit can devise some expedient by which I can obtain my righ

sted William: our uncle Odo

. I will to Normandy, and summon my trusty squires to council. Simon of Huntingdon, Hugh of Norfolk, and

ng for the pecuniary aid, with which the countess, who knew t

terms with the king. Many of the insurgents repaired to Normandy, and suffered the confiscation of their estates; and while the Countess of Blois daily expected a summons to attend Robert's coronation,

ers, labored to effect a reconciliation th

l overtures of peace; but Adela comprehending the hopeless defect of a character, that not

am that rolled its clear waters to the Loire, invited them to rest during the noontide hours. With loosened rein the steeds wandered at will cropping the tender herbage, or slaked their thirst in the rippling brook; while reposing upon the gre

e verge of a fountain. Occupied with the sweet thoughts suggested by the place, she scarcely noted the absence of her children, till the little Henry, pulling her by the robe exclaimed with a face all radiant with joy, "This way ma mère, Thibaut says we've found a hermit's cell, and Stephen is tal

s after a scrutinizing gaze a

itter reproach, rising and throwing off his gray friar's gown a

amazed and chagrined at this transfo

bted the affection of A

ubt the love of one leagued with my f

oes?" inquired the coun

ing on her eyelids. "Thy countenance bespeaks thy sincerity. Have I

ister, "but come thou with me. My lord awaits us at the castle

," reiterated the childre

the young Stephen balancing a stick as a la

chael's Mount?" said Henry as he rode by the si

perverted to restrain my interference, was all

f Cotentin, and then passed into England, to secure the dower of my mother. On my return, the prodigal having squandered the moneys received from me, seized and confined me in one of his fortresses. When Normandy was invaded, he released me from my imprisonment, and I did him good service in compell

"I knew not that thy interest was involved, else I had given f

till I took refuge in Mt. St. Michael, where the friendly tides kept them at bay; and there I had perished with thirst, had not Robert's tardy compassion ministered to my necessity, and

thers. See! yonder gleams the spires of Blois. But what knightly train proceeds up the broad avenue of the castle. Listen! The warder sounds his bugle blast, and the drawbridge is lowered. Put thy horse to his mettle; t

la, with a determined air, laid her hand upon his arm. "Remain," said she, "that portcullis bars al

rance of Henry threw him into evident perturbation, nor did it relieve his embarrassment to see his wife

repentant duke happily av

ration that lieth in my power. I restore unto thee Cotentén, and would but for my poverty indemnify thee for thy losses. I have determined on a

, and effected an apparent reconciliation. Harmony being thus restored, Robert proceeded at proper

a soldier. His head was bare, his feet naked. His diminutive figure, attenuated by frequent abstinence, was wrapped in a coarse garment. His prayers were long and fervent, and the enthusiasm that gleamed in his eyes kindled the fires of holy zeal, in every town, village, and hamlet through which he passed. As he rode along, every street and highway was thro

nt desire of pilgrimage that had long slumbered in his mind awoke to life and activity, and he became a convert to the preachings of Peter the He

istress of their sovereign, and the danger of Constantinople, from the victorious Turks. The sad tales of the misery and peri

ad given his sanction to the scheme, and summoned a second council to meet in Clermon

Adela, and the co-operation of Ste

e clear-sightedness peculiar to her character, she scanned the wide field thus opened to ambition, balanced the possible with the impracticable, determined for her brother the only course that would give f