THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND AND THEIR TIMES. MATILDA OF FLANDERS, Queen of William the First, usually styled William the Conqueror. CHAPTER I. Birth of Matilda-Her parentage-Education-Beauty-Accomplishments-Sought in marriage by William, Duke of Normandy-Obstacles to the match-His perseverance-Brutality to Matilda-Their marriage-William's early life-The royal pair excommunicated-Dispensation-Conviction of Mauger-Prosperity of Normandy-Domestic happiness of Matilda--Her children-William visits England-Harold's voyage to Normandy-His oath-Betrothment to Matilda's daughter Adeliza-Accession—William prepares to invade England-Matilda and her son Robert Regents of Normandy. ATILDA OF FLAN- Her father, the gentle Faldwn. the ifth, DERS, of whom few reigned over Flanders. He possessed no princesses can boast other title than that of carl, but his vira more noble descent, tues and talents were so great and many, was born about the that under his wise rule commerce and thirtieth or thirty-arts flourished exceedingly, and the infirst year of the tenth dustrious Flemings became a great and century. History wealthy people. lier mother, the no less beautiful than accomplished Adelais, was a daughter of the royal house of France, and allied by marriage to the greatest sovereigns of Europe. has not chronicled the day when she first saw the light, but, judging from the writings of her contemporaries, we cannot be far wrong in referring the early days of her infancy to the above period. Matilda was gifted with highly cap tivating charms of person. Her air was dignified without being haughty, her speech eloquent, soft, and musical, and, as her quick versatile mind was educated with the greatest care, she grew up, in the language of an old chronicler, the pearl of beauty, the perfection of goodness, and the mirror of womanly accomplishments; nobly patronizing the learned, and, with a queenly hand, encouraging the arts and refinements of the times." Her childhood was passed in quiet retirement: but the bloom of youthful maidenhood had scarcely tinged her features with womanly charms, when her beauty and accomplishments, her noble descent, and the power and wealth of her father, the Earl of Flanders, induced many of the neighbouring princes to seek her hand in marriage. Of these, the most ardent and persevering was her cousin, William, the young Duke of Normandy, surnamed the Bastard, who desired this union, less as an act of political policy, than to satisfy the burning longings of love. But the cautious Earl of Flanders considered that William held his ducal crown by an uncertain tenure; and a yet stronger objection had Matilda to the matchher affections having been bestowed on Brithric, the Earl of Gloucester, a wealthy Saxon noble, who had visited the court of her father as an ambassador from Edward th Confessor. William, however, having determined on this marriage, was not to be discouraged by difficulties. The intrigues of jealous rivals, the opposition of inveterate foes, the many objections raised by the parents and kindred of Matilda, and even her own cool replies, but increased the glow of his burning ardour, and prompted him to redouble his exertions. Driven to desperation by the failure of negociations and entreaties during a lapse of more than six years, he, in 1047, suddenly presented himself before his fair cousin, when she was returning from early mass, in the ancient city of Bruges, and with wildly glaring eyes, and lips quivering with passion, accused her of loving Brithric. Know ye, cousin," he continued, in bitter, reproachful tones, "Edward, Eng land's king, has nami me his heir, and. by the holy cross, the Saxon churl who dares aspire to thy hand, shall. ere long, be crushed by the vengeance of our royal resentment !'' Mighty words-easily spoken, and, verily, proof not of greatness, nor va lour," observed the princess, to whom the tale appeared boastful improbability. Then bursting into a fit of malicious laughter, she exclaimed, "The doubtful Duke of Normandy, monarch of England; an excellent joke, truly! But had not my politic cousin better say Emperor of all Christendom?" These sarcastic remarks, uttered with derisive scorn, so excited the fury of William, that, in a frenzy of anger, he seized Matilda, dragged her along the ground, rolled her in a muddy pool, beat her severely, and leaving her more dead than alive, mounted his charger, and gallopped from the town, before the patrols heard of his brutal doings. History saith not what emboldened him, after such outrageous conduct, to again enter Matilda's presence. Although, as that princess's passion for Brithric-the greatest obstruction to the progress of his protracted courtshipwas about this time changed to hate, by the coolness of the Saxon earl himself, who positively refused to marry her, it is not improbable that, either from a dread or admiration of his prowess, or, perhaps, both, she overlooked his enormities, and gave him her heart. Pe this as it may, it is a historical fact, that in 1052, the royal cousins were married, with great pomp and rejoicings, the ceremony being performed at Augi, a castle in Normandy, belonging to William, and whither Matilda was conveyed by her illustrious relatives, and a numerous train of nobles and knights. William was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert of Normandy, surnamed the Devil, of whom so many strange legends are still current in the north of rance. His mother was the beautiful Arlotta, the daughter of a tanner in the town of Falaise. Duke Robert had no other issue, and he was so pleased with the vigour handsomeness, and early promise, of the infant William, that, with |