Legends of Richard the Good, Duke of Normandy

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Introduction

"Legends of Richard the Good, Duke of Normandy." The London Journal 1.4. Print.

It is difficult to understand the true purpose of The London Journal. Very seldom are authors attached to their works or given credit—unless the poem or short story happened to be written by the editor Leigh Hunt himself—but their ideas reflect the various ideals of the Victorians. Hunt said, “Pleasure is the business of [the London Journal].” Yet, one of the stories in his journal, “Richard the Good,” in which Richard II helps an enamored sacristan in a bind, poses polarized themes: the pursuit of pleasure and a fear of death. So, one has to ask why Hunt would include an article about death in a journal supposedly focused on pleasure. The answer probably lies in Hunt’s personal views and background.

As an editor and evaluator of aesthetic literature, Hunt’s personal values and interests are seen in what he includes. In his autobiography, Hunt said that he had a disturbed childhood that included instances of “quiet and disturbance . . . placid readings and frightful knocks at the door, and sickness, and calamity, and hopes, which hardly ever forsook us.”[1] The first book he read was Paradise Lost, and he felt that religious implications were of great value to Victorian readers. Combined with the aesthetic ideals that his peers set forth, Hunt produced a journal that appealed to a diverse group of readers. Looking at the themes of religion and aestheticism, it would make logical sense that he would include the legends about Richard the Good. Also, Hunt’s friends—Carlyle, Lord Byron, and Thomas Moore—wrote about both religious and aesthetic themes.

It is natural to assume that a story about a particular ruler like Richard II would have some sort of an underlying political stance. Although the story is definitely labeled as a legend and does not appear to criticize the present ruler, it makes subtle political comments. Although Richard the Good isn’t blatantly political, Victorian readers who are educated and familiar with writers such as Carlyle and Mill would recognize Hunt’s call for strong political readers. Richard the Good may be compared to the eccentric (Mill) captain of industry (Carlyle) that these more famous writers call for. Richard II devises an unconventional answer to a difficult situation dealing with the destiny of a religious soul that appeases the devil himself. He is respected by the people enough to be a strong leader.


Transcription

Legends of Richard the Good, Duke of Normandy

Legends of Richard the Good, Duke of Normandy

It was the custom of Duke Richard of Normandy, called the Good,[2] to ramble about by night as well as by day, and though he met with many phantoms he was never afraid of them. As he was so much abroad in the former season, it was commonly reported that he could see as well in the dark as other men by daylight. Whenever he came to an abbey or a church, he was sure to stop and pray outside, if he could not gain admission within. One night as he was riding along wrapt in meditation, and far from any attendant, he alighted, according to custom, before a church, fastened his horse at the door, and went in to pray. He passed a coffin which lay on a bier,[3] threw his gloves on a reading-desk in the choir, and knelt before the altar, kissed the earth, and commenced his devotions. He had scarcely done so when he heard a strange noise proceeding from the bier behind him. He turned round, (for he feared nothing in the world;) and looking towards the place, said, “Whether thou art a good or a bad thing, be still and rest in peace!” The Duke then proceeded with his prayer, whether it was long or short I cannot tell, and at the conclusion signed himself with the cross saying

Per hoc signum sanctae crucis Libera me de malignis Domine Deus Salutis.

Through this sign of the Holy Cross, Deliver me from the Evil Ones, Lord God of my Salvation.

He then arose, and said, “Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit.”[4] He took his sword, and as he was preparing to leave the church, behold the devil stood bolt upright at the door, extending his long arms, as if to seize Richard, and prevent his departure. The latter drew his sword, cut the figure down the centre, and sent it through the bier. Whether it cried or not I do not know. When Richard came to his horse outside the door, he perceived that he had forgotten his gloves; and as he did not wish to lose them, he returned into the chancel for them. Few men would have done as much. Wherefore he caused it to be proclaimed, both in the churches and in the market places, that in future no corpse should be left alone till it was buried.

Another adventure happened to the Duke, which made people wonder, and which would not so easily have been believed, were it not so well known. I have heard it from many, who had in like manner heard it from their forefathers; but often through carelessness, idleness or ignorance, many a good tale is not committed to writing though it would prove very entertaining. At that time there was a sacristan,[5] who was reckoned a proper monk and one of good report; but the more a man is praised, the more the devil assaults him, and watches the more for an occasion to tempt him. So it happened to the Sacristan. One day, so the devil would have it, as he was passing by the church about his business, he saw a marvellously fine woman, and fell desperately in love with her. His passion knows no bounds. He must die if he cannot have her; so he will leave nothing undone to come at his end. He talked to her so much, and made her so many promises, that the fair dame at last appointed a meeting in the evening at her own house. She told him that he must pass over a narrow bridge or rotten plank which lay across the river Robec;[6] that there was no other way, and that she could not be spoken with anywhere else.—When the night came, and the other monks were asleep, the Sacristan grew impatient to be gone. He wanted no companion, so he went alone to the bridge and ventured on it. Whether he stumbled or slipt, or was taken suddenly ill, I cannot tell, but he fell into the water, and was drowned.

As soon as his soul left the body, the devil seized it, and was posting away with it to hell, when an angel met him, and strove with him which of them should possess it: wherefore a great dispute arose between them, each giving a reason in support of his claim. Says the devil, “Thou dost me wrong, in seeking to deprive me of the soul I am carrying; dost thou not know that every soul taken in sin is mine?[7] This was in a wicked way, and in a wicked way I have seized it. Now the Scripture itself says, ‘As I find thee, so I will judge thee.’ This monk I found in evil, of which the business he was about is sufficient proof, and there needs no other.”[8] Replies the angel, “Hold thy peace; it shall not be so. The monk led a good life in his abbey, he conducted himself well and faithfully, and no one ever saw ill of him. The Scripture saith, that which is reasonable and right, every good work shall be rewarded, and every evil one punished. Then this monk ought to be rewarded for the good we know he has done; but how could that be if he were suffered to be damned? He had not committed any sin when thou didst take and condemn him. Howbeit, he had left the abbey, and did come to the bridge, he might have turned back if he had not fallen into the river; and he ought not to be so much punished for a sin which he never committed. For his foolish intention alone, thou condemnest him, and in that thou art wrong. Let the soul alone, and as for the strife betwixt thee and me, let us go to Duke Richard, and abide by his opinion. Neither side will have any reason to complain; he will decide honestly and wisely, for false judgment is not to be found in him. To what he says we will both submit without any more dispute.” Says the devil, “I consent to it; and let the soul remain between us.”

They immediately went to Richard’s chamber, who was then in bed. He had been asleep, but just then he was awake and reflecting upon divers things. They related to him how the monk had left his monastery on an evil errand, how he had fallen from the bridge, and been drowned without doing evil. They desired him to judge which of them should take possession of the soul. Answers Richard, briefly, “Go immediately, and restore the soul to the body; let him then be placed on the bridge, on the very spot from which he tumbled; and if he advances one foot, nay, ever so little, let Nick[9] go and take him away without further hindrance; but if the monk turns back, let him do so unmolested.”[10] Neither could say nay to this decision, so they did as he had said. The soul was returned to the body, the body restored to life, and the monk placed on the very part of the bridge whence he had fallen. As soon as the poor fellow perceived that he was standing upright on the bridge, he ran back as quickly as though he had trod on a snake;[11] he did not even stay to bid the devil and the angel good bye. On his reaching the abbey, he shook his wet clothes, and crept into a corner. He was still terrified at the thought of death,[12] and he could not well say whether he was dead or alive. The next morning Richard went to the abbey church to pray. The Duke caused him to be brought before the abbot, “Brother,” says Richard, “what think you now? How came you to be taken? Take care another time how you pass the bridge. Tell the abbot what you have seen tonight.” The monk blushed, and was ashamed in the presence of his superior and the duke. He confessed all, how he went, how he perished, how the devil had deceived him, and how the duke had delivered him; he related the whole matter, which was confirmed by the noble Richard. Thus was the thing noised abroad and its certainty established. Long after it took place, this saying became a proverb in Normandy, “Sir monk, go gently, take care of yourself when you pass over the bridge.”

Notes

  1. Leigh Hunt, Autobiography, 1850. 1.19 (WI).
  2. Richard II lived from 963 to 1067. He is one of the six dukes of Normandy and his father was Richard I, whose nickname was Richard the Fearless (DLB).
  3. A bier was a frame on which dead bodies were conveyed to the grave (Luke 7:14 (KJV)).
  4. An allusion to Jesus Christ while on the cross (Luke 23:46 (KJV)).
  5. A keeper of the church’s sacred vessels (OED).
  6. The River Robec is a small river in Seine-Maritime of Normandy. Its length is nine kilometers (OED).
  7. 1 Samuel 26:21 (KJV).
  8. The original this is a single quotation mark, I have edited it for clarity.
  9. “Old Nick” is an English appellation of the devil (OED).
  10. In the original there was no quotation mark; it has been inserted for clarity.
  11. Also another allusion to the devil, depicted as a serpent in the Bible (Gen. 3: 1-14 (KJV)).
  12. Leigh Hunt was extremely afraid of death (WI).

Edited by: Morgan, Michael: section 1, Fall 2007

From: Volume 1, Issue 4 (The London Journal)