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her the scattered remains of his army, and established something like a camp. It is a curious illustration of the feudal feelings of those times in respect to the gradation of ranks, or else of the extraordinary modesty and good sense of William's character, that he assumed no airs of superiority over his sovereign, and showed no signs of extravagant elation after this battle. He sent a respectful embassage to Henry, recognizing his own acknowledged subjection to Henry as his sovereign, and imploring his protection! He looked confidently to him, he said, for aid and support against his rebellious subjects. Though he thus professed, however, to rely on Henry, he really trusted most, it seems, to his own right arm; for, as soon as this battle was fairly over, and while the whole country was excited with the astonishing brilliancy of the exploit performed by so young a man, William mounted his horse, and calling upon those to follow him who wished to do so, he rode at full speed, at the head of a small cavalcade, to the castle at Arques. His sudden appearance here, with the news of the victory, inspirited the besiegers to such a degree that the castle was soon taken. He allowed the rebel earl to escape, and thus, perhaps, all the more effectually put an end to the rebellion. He was now in peaceable possession of his realm. He went in triumph to Falaise, where he was solemnly crowned with great ceremony and parade, and all Normandy was filled with congratulations and rejoicings. CHAPTER IV. WILLIAM'S REIGN IN NORMANDY. A.D. 1040-1060 A lapse of twenty years.--Conspiracy of Guy of Burgundy.--The fool or jester.--Meetings of the conspirators.--Final plans of the conspirators.--Discovered by Galet.--Galet sets out in search of William.--He finds him asleep.--William's flight.--His narrow escape.--William is recognized.--Hubert's castle.--Hubert's sons.--Pursuit of the conspirators.--Defeat of the rebels.--Their punishment.--Curious incident.--Coats of armor.--Origin of heraldry.--Rollo de Tesson.--Keeping both oaths.--Changing sides.--Character of the ancient chieftains.--Their love of war.--Ancient castles.--Their interior construction.--Nothing respectable for the nobility but war.--Rebellions.--Insulting allusions to William's birth.--The ambuscade.--Its failure.--Insults of the garrison.--Indignation of William.--William's campaign in France.--His popularity.--William's prowess.--True nature of coura
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