Duke Renaud, general of the Gallo-Frankish troops, went to encounter him on the banks of the Eure, and sent to him, to sound his intentions, Hastings, the newly-made count of Chartres.

"Valiant warriors," said Hastings to Rollo, "whence come ye?
What seek ye here?
What is the name of your lord and master?
Tell us this; for we be sent unto you by the king of the Franks." "We be Danes," answered Rollo, "and all be equally masters amongst us.

We be come to drive out the inhabitants of this land, and to subject it as our own country.

But who art thou, thou who speakest so glibly ?" "Ye have sometime heard tell of one Hastings, who, issuing forth from amongst you, came hither with much shipping and made desert a great part of the kingdom of the Franks ?" "Yes," said Rollo, "we have heard tell of him; Hastings began well and ended ill." "Will ye yield you to King Charles ?" asked Hastings.

"We yield," was the answer, "to none; all that we shall take by our arms we will keep as our right.