*84 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

c u a i*. tunity of settling in the warm climates and culti-jii. vated fields of the south.

Affairs were in this situation with Rollo andhis followers, when Charles proposed to relinquishto them part of the province formerly calledNeusiria , and to purchase peace on these hardconditions. After all the terms were fully fettled,there appeared only one circumstance shockingto the haughty Dane : He was required to dohomage to Charles for this province, and toput himself in that humiliating posture, imposedon vassals by the rites of the feudal law. HeJong refused to submit to this indignity ; butbeing unwilling to lose such important advantagesfor a mere ceremony , he made a sacrifice of hispride to his interest, and acknowledged himselfin form the vassal of the French monarchCharles gave him his daughter, Cilia, in marriage;and that he might bind him faster to his interests,made him a donation of a considerable territory,besides that which he was obliged to surrenderto him by his stipulations. When some of theFrench nobles informed him, that, in return forso generous a present , it was expected, that heshould throw himself at the king’s feet, and makesuitable acknowledgments for his bounty; Rolloreplied, that he would rather decline the present;and it was with some difficulty they could persuadehim to make that compliment by one of his cap-tains. The Dane, commissioned for this purpose,

Ypod. Neust, p. 417.