Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1898 — THE CONQUEROR'S GRAVE. [ARTICLE]

THE CONQUEROR'S GRAVE.

William I. Was 8o Disliked that His Body Was Refused a Burial. Duke William of Normandy, whose sturdy rule in England imparted to the Anglo-Saxon race much of its thrift and enterprise, was a native of the little town of Caen in Normandy. About 1000 lie was illegally married to Matilda, a princess of Flanders. To oh-, tain papal interference on behalf of the ducal pair, Bishops Lanfranc and Bee were dispatched to Koine. They soon returned to Caen bearing with them a dispensation which ratiilcd the illegal marriage. But so great a favor could not be granted without corresponding penance on the part of the illustrious sinners. Accordingly with the dispensation came the command for each to rear and maintain a monastery for the education of religious persons of their respective sexes.

While the masons were at work erecting the monasteries the shipbuilders were building the great ships which were soon to carry to Eugland the victorious troops of Duke William, where he was to gain the British crown. After he had subdued Britain with Ills Iron hand, he returned to Normandy to punish the King of France, who had been encroaching upon the rights of the vassals of the Normnn duke. It was during this expedition that William fell from his horse, sustaining injuries which subsequently caused his death. At the time of his decease he was so thoroughly disliked even by those who 1 had gained his position for him thait his ] body remained upon the ground for i some time before anyone could be I found who had enough regard for the dead duke to give his body a decent burial. At last, through compassion, Herlwin, a rustic knight, but perfect gentleman, took possession of tike neglected, half-naked corpse of William, and conveyed it to the Caen up the waters of the Orne. Here he sought to find for it a last resting place in the abbey which the dead monarch had built years before. A serious tire broke out as the procession was forming on the quay, and again every one rushed away to look after his own, and the body was left to the almost solitary care of Herlwin. Once in the ablx-y and the dignitaries reassembled, things seemed to go a little smoother. However, the funeral oration extolling the virtues of the deceased had come to an end when Ascelin, a knight, raised himself upon a stone and cried, “This ground where ye stand was the site of my father's house, which the man for whom ye pray, while lie was yet hut Count of Normandy, took away by force from iny father, and, in spite of law and justice, built this church upon ii ills might. I therefore claim the lav.,-.; i challenge it as mine before all men, , in the name of Cod I forbid that ■ body of the robber be covered with my mould, or that he l>e burled within the bounds of mine inheritance.” Truly a flg! . ‘cch.-this of Ascelin's, aud the as: .V d bishops thought so likewise, for : y promptly pacified the knight by b ; i:ig enough land wherein to place U . y of William. But the troubloi; ■ • was not over. The stone coffin !.: en made too small, and in a totem y.: , to force the body into it, it burst, an the power of the Incense was not strong enough to prevent another retreat, which again left the devoted Herlwin almost unattended to see the last offices performed.