The Battle of Hastings

BY ROBERT WACE

This vivid description of the battle of Hastings is condensed from the version of Wace's account given in Creasy's "Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World." Robert Wace (1112 ?-1184 ?) was an Anglo-Norman author, who wrote a chronicle in verse of the dukes of Normandy from the invasion of Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy, to the time of Henry I., King of England.

The battle of Hastings was fought October 14, 1066, between the Saxons under their King Harold and the Normans under Duke William. The duke claimed that Edward the Confessor, the king of England who had preceded Harold and who had died childless, had appointed him heir to the throne of England, and that Harold when on a visit to Normandy had sworn to support his claims. After Edward's death, however, Harold became king. William collected an army and invaded England. By his victory at Hastings Duke William of Normandy became king of England, and Norman institutions and civilization were introduced into Saxon England.

I

Let us suffer the old Norman chronicler to transport our imaginations to the fair Sussex scenery northwest of Hastings, as it appeared on the morning of the fourteenth of October, 1066. The Norman host is pouring forth from its tents, and each troop and each company is form- 5 ing fast under the banner of its leader. The masses have been sung, which were finished betimes in the morning;' the barons have all assembled round Duke William; and the duke has ordered that the army shall be formed in three divisions, so as to make the attack upon the Saxon 10 position in three places.

The duke stood on a hill where he could best see his men; the barons surrounded him, and he spake to them proudly. He told them how he trusted them, and how all that he gained should be theirs, and how sure he felt 5 of conquest, for in all the world there was not so brave an army, or such good men and true as were then forming around him.

"The men on foot led the way, with serried ranks, bearing their bows. The knights rode next, supporting 10 the archers from behind. Thus both foot and horse kept their course and order of march as they began, in close ranks at a gentle pace that the one might not pass or separate from the other. All went firmly and compactly, bearing themselves gallantly.

15 "Harold had summoned his men, earls, barons, and vavasors, from the castles and the cities, from the ports, the villages and boroughs. The peasants were also called together from the villages, bearing such arms as they found; clubs and great picks, iron forks and stakes. 20 Harold knew that the Normans would come and attack him hand to hand, so he had early inclosed the field in which he had placed his men. He made them arm early and range themselves for the battle, he himself having put on arms and equipments that became such a lord. 25 The duke, as he said, ought to seek him, as he wanted to conquer England; and it became him to abide the attack who had to defend the land. He commanded the people and counseled his barons to keep themselves all together, and defend themselves in a body; for if they once sepa30 rated, they would with difficulty recover themselves. The Normans,' said he, are good vassals, valiant on foot

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and on horseback, good knights are they on horseback, and well used to battle; all is lost if they once penetrate our ranks. They have brought long lances and swords, but you have pointed lances and keen-edged bills; and I do not expect that their arms can stand against yours. 5 Cleave whenever you can; it will be ill done if you spare aught.'

"When Harold had made all ready and given his orders, he came into the midst of the English and dismounted by the side of the standard; Leofwin and Gurth, 10 his brothers, were with him; and around him he had barons enough, as he stood by his standard, which was, in truth, a noble one, sparkling with gold and precious stones. After the victory William sent it to the pope, to prove and commemorate his great conquest and glory. 15 The English stood in close ranks, ready and eager for the fight; and they, moreover, made a fosse which went across the field, guarding one side of their army.

"Meanwhile the Normans appeared advancing over the ridge of a rising ground, and as soon as the two armies 20 were in full view of each other, great noise and tumult arose. You might hear the sound of many trumpets, of bugles, and of horns; and then you might see men ranging themselves in line, lifting their shields, raising their lances, bending their bows, handling their arrows, ready 25 for assault and defense.

"Then Taillefer, who sang right well, mounted on a swift horse, before the duke, singing of Charlemagne and of Roland, of Oliver, and the peers who died in Roncesvalles. And when they drew nigh to the English, A 30 boon, sire!' cried Taillefer. I have long served you and

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you owe me for all such service. To-day, so please you, you shall repay it. I ask as my guerdon, and beseech you for it earnestly, that you will allow me to strike the first blow in the battle!' And the duke answered, 'I grant 5 it.' Then Taillefer put his horse to a gallop, charging before all the rest, and struck an Englishman dead, driving his lance below the breast into his body and stretching him upon the ground. Then he drew his sword, and struck another, crying out, Come on, come on! 10 What do ye, sirs? lay on, lay on!' At the second blow he struck, the English pushed forward and surrounded and slew him. Forthwith arose the noise and cry of war, and on either side the people put themselves in motion.

"The Normans moved on to the assault, and the English 15 defended themselves well. Some were striking, others urging onward; all were bold and cast aside fear. And now, behold, that battle was gathered whereof the fame is yet mighty.

"Loud and far resounded the bray of the horns; and 20 the shock of the lances, the mighty strokes of maces, and the quick clashing of swords. One while the Englishmen rushed on, another while they fell back; one while the men from over sea charged onward, and again at other times retreated. Then came the cunning maneuvers, the 25 rude shocks and strokes of the lance and blows of the swords, among the sergeants and soldiers, both English and Norman. When the English fall, the Normans. shout. Each side taunts and defies the other, yet neither knoweth what the other saith; and the Normans say the 30 English bark, because they understand not their speech.

"Some wax strong, others weak: the brave exult, but

the cowards tremble, as men who are sore dismayed. The Normans press on the assault, and the English defend their post well; they pierce the hauberks and cleave the shields, receive and return mighty blows. Again, some press forward, others yield; and thus in various ways the 5 struggle proceeds.

II

"From nine o'clock in the morning, when the combat began, till three o'clock came, the battle was up and down, this way and that, and no one knew who would conquer and win the land. Both sides stood so firm and 10 fought so well that no one could guess which would prevail. The Norman archers with their bows shot thickly upon the English; but they covered themselves with their shields, so that the arrows could not reach their bodies, nor do any mischief, how true soever was their aim or 15 however well they shot. Then the Normans determined to shoot their arrows upward into the air, so that they might fall on their enemies' heads and strike their faces. The archers adopted this scheme and shot up into the air toward the English; and the arrows in falling struck 20 their heads and faces and put out the eyes of many, and all feared to open their eyes or leave their faces unguarded.

"The arrows now flew thicker than rain before the wind; fast sped the shafts that the English call 'wibetes.' 25 Then it was that an arrow that had been thus shot upward, struck Harold above his right eye and put it out. In his agony he drew the arrow and threw it away, break