A BROKEN STRA W, 



origin. She says that the old Chroniclers relate how Charles 

 the Simple, in the year 922, when he saw that he was for- 

 saken by the chief of his barons, summoned an assembly in 

 the Champs de Mai, at Soissons. He looked among them for 

 friends, but found only a factious crew, whose audacity his 

 own weakness served only to increase. Some reproached him 

 with indolence, with his prodigalities, and for his blind trust 

 in Haganon, his minister. Others complained loudly of his 

 dishonourable concessions to Raoul, the Norman chief. 

 Surrounded by this seditious multitude, he entreated, he 

 promised, and sought to escape them by betraying fresh 

 weaknesses, but all in vain. When they saw him devoid 

 of all moral courage, their insolence knew no bounds ; they 

 declared that he was no longer their king. At these words, 

 which they uttered with every gesture of violence, and accom- 

 panied with threats, they advanced to the foot of the throne, 

 broke some straws which they had in their hands, cast them 

 rudely upon the ground and withdrew, having expressed by 

 this meaning action that they renounced their allegiance to 

 him. 



This is the most ancient example of the kind known to us ; 

 but it proves that, long ago, this expressive mode of breaking 

 treaties was in use, since the great vassals of the weak king 

 did not consider that any words were needed in explanation ; 

 they felt sure that they would be understood, and they 

 were so. 



There is a considerable space of time between the above 

 and the comic scene in the Dcpit ainoiircux of Moliere ; yet 



e one is the origin of the other ; at least they have 



38 



