Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 5.djvu/81

ROLLO THE GANGER 45 Here was a golden opportunity for Rollo the Ganger and his vikings. Meet- ing with no formidable opposition, they sailed up the Seine and cast anchor at the town of Jumieges, five leagues from Rouen. This ancient city, which had suffered much from recent sieges and invasions, was in no condition to defend itself. It was of slight avail that the priests chanted in the churches, with the fervor of despair : " Deliver us, oh God, from the fury of Norsemen ! " The vikings con- tinued to pillage the surrounding territory, and were daily expected to sack the city. In this dire dilemma the Archbishop of Rouen offered himself as an am- bassador to the pagans, in the hope that perhaps he might become an instrument in the hand of God to avert the impending doom. But if, as seemed more prob- able, martyrdom was in store for him, he was ready to face death without flinch- ing. Rollo, however, who could honor courage even in an enemy, received him courteously, and after a brief negotiation pledged himself, in case the city surren- dered, to take peaceful possession of it and to molest no one. This pledge he kept to the letter. His ships sailed up the river, and the tall chieftain, at the head of his band of yellow-haired warriors, made his entry into Rouen, without a sword being drawn or a torch lighted. He inspected the fortifications, the water supply, and all points of strategic interest, and finding everything tolerably satisfactory, re- solved to remain. Making Rouen his headquarters and base of supplies, the Norsemen made expeditions up the Seine and established a great fortified camp near the confluence of the Seine and the Eure. Hither a French army, under the command of Regnault, Duke of France, was sent to drive them out of the country. But before risking a battle Regnault chose to negotiate. He sent a certain Hast- ing, Count of Chartres, to Rollo in order to find out what was the aim and object of his invasion. This Hasting was himself a Norseman, and had, twenty years before, proved himself so formidable a foe, that the King of France had been compelled to buy his friendship by a concession of land and a noble title, in re- turn for which favors Hasting had become a Christian and a vassal to the king. It was doubtful, perhaps, if this man, even though he may have acted in good faith, was the best ambassador to his countrymen. For he was himself a living example of what might be gained by audacity and a shrewd use of one's advan- tages. The following conversation is reported to have taken place between the Count of Chartres and the Norwegian vikings : "Gallant soldiers!" shouted Hasting, from afar, "what is your chieftain's name?" "We have no lord over us," they replied ; "we are all equal." " For what purpose have you come to France ?" " To drive out the people who are here, or make them our subjects, and win for ourselves a new country. But who are you ? How is it that you speak our tongue ? " " You know the story of Hasting," the count made answer ; " Hasting, the great viking, who scoured the seas with his multitude of ships, and did so much damage in this kingdom ? "