54. Account

by William

of Poitou

This account is from a rather confused and pretentious Latin chronicle, that of William, bishop of Poitou, -which is nevertheless of interest as giving a very full account of the battle of Hastings by one who seems to have been an eyewitness.

The duke advanced in most excellent order, with the standof the battle ard which the pope had sent over leading the way. In the front row he placed foot soldiers armed with arrows and missiles for hurling, and in the second line likewise foot soldiers, who were stronger and clad in coat of mail; on the last line he placed the squads of cavalry, in the midst of which he himself took his stand firmly, from which spot he would issue his directions to all parts by gesture and by spoken word. Some one of the old writers, in speaking of that line of Harold, said that on his march the rivers were drunk dry, and the forests reduced to plains; for a vast number of English forces had collected from those regions on all sides. A part showed their zeal for Harold, all for their country, which they wished to defend against foreigners, even though unjustly. The country of the Danes, which was related to them, had also sent many auxiliaries. Nevertheless, not daring to engage with William on the plain, and fearing him more than the king of the Norwegians, they seized a higher position, which was a mountain next to a forest through which they had come. Abandoning any aid from the horses, all the foot soldiers crowded together in closely packed ranks. The leader with his men, undaunted by the roughness of the place and by the steepness of the ascent, climbed slowly up. A startling blast of the trumpets gave the signal for the battle, and on each side the ready courage of the Normans began the fight, just as when a speaker in a court is pleading a case of robbery, in advance he strikes with his speech the one who is bringing the charge.

Then the Norman foot soldiers, approaching nearer, provoke the English, aiming to wound and kill them with their missiles. They, on the other hand, resist bravely by whatever devices they can. They hurl spears and weapons of all sorts, as well as

Senlac

the pitiless axes, together with stones placed on logs. One might think that our men would be buried by these as by a death-bringing mound. The horsemen bring aid and those who are behind come up to the front. It becomes a shame to fight from afar, and they dare to carry on the battle with swords. On one side the Normans arise, on the other the barbarian is overcome by the sound of arms and the groans of the dying. Thus for some time the struggle continues on both sides with the greatest violence. The English were aided greatly by the The English advantage of a higher situation, which they held without ad- on the hill of vancing, and were very closely crowded together; they were also aided by their great number and size; as well, too, by the implements of warfare which easily found their way through the shield or other protection. So they bravely sustained and even drove back those who dared to make an attack upon them with drawn swords; and they wounded those who were throwing weapons upon them from afar off. The British foot soldiers as well as the horsemen, terrified by this cruelty, turned aside, as did all the auxiliaries which were on the left wing; almost the entire line of the duke retreated, although it has been said of the Normans that they are one of the most invincible nations.

This army of Roman majesty standing against forces of kings, accustomed to conquer on land and sea, at length fled when it learned or believed that its leader had been slain. For the Normans believed that their lord and duke had been killed, and withdrew in a flight of which they ought not to be too much ashamed; least of all ought it to be grieved over since it aided much. The duke, seeing that a great part of the guard opposite had leaped forth and were pressing on the backs of his men, rushed up to those who were fleeing and placed himself in their path, at the same time reproving and threatening them with his sword. Tearing off his helmet, with head bare, he cried out: "Look at me. I live, and shall with God's aid conquer. What madness is driving you to flight? What road will be open to flee? Those whom you are able to punish as cattle are driving and killing you. You are deserting victory and everlasting honor; you are hastening to destruction and eternal disgrace. No one of you will escape death by going now." At

829125

Pretended

Normans

these words they recovered their courage. He himself rushed forward, striking terror with his sword, and killing the people opposite, who deserved death inasmuch as they were rebelling against their king. The Normans fiercely surrounded several thousands who had followed them, and quickly destroyed them, so that not even one survived. So encouraged, they attacked the whole army; although this had suffered great loss, yet it did not seem much smaller. The English confidently attacked with their entire force, laboring especially for this, namely, that they should allow no open approach to those wishing to break through. Nevertheless openings were soon cut with the sword through the different companies of the bravest soldiers. Through these pressed in the Cenomani, French, Bretons, Aquitanians, but with especial bravery the Normans.

A certain Norman soldier, Robert, son of Roger of Bellemonte, nephew and heir of Hugo, count of Mellento, through his sister Adeline, on that day first engaged in a battle which made his praise everlasting; with the legion of which he was in command in the right wing, he rushed forward and overcame many with great boldness. It is not in our ability nor does our intention permit us to mention the brave deeds of separate individuals in accordance with their merit. Even a man who had seen that contest with his own eyes would need to use all his powers of speech to describe what was done.

But we hasten on in order that, after finishing the praise of William the duke, we may write the glory of William the king. The Normans and their allies noticed that the enemy, who flight of the resisted bravely, could not be overcome without great loss to themselves, so they turned their backs and pretended flight. They recalled what desirable results flight had produced a little while before. The greatest joy, together with a hope of victory, was inspired in the barbarians. Encouraging themselves with an exultant cry, they heaped curses upon our men, and threatened that they would kill all. As before, several thousands with flying steps dared to press upon those whom they thought fleeing. The Normans suddenly turned their horses, killing on all sides those whom they intercepted and surrounded, sparing no one. Twice they used the same strategy, with the same

result; with greater zeal they attacked the rest; it was still a difficult feat to surround the line of battle which up to that time had been impregnable. An unusual sort of battle then took place, as one part surged back and forth, while the other stood as if rooted to the ground. The English were tired out, Defeat of the and acknowledging defeat by this very failure, they suffered the English penalty. The Normans discharged their arrows, struck them down, and ran them through; the dead, while falling, rather than the living, seemed to be moved. There was no chance for those slightly wounded to fall, but the vast number of the soldiers, crowding together, killed them by crushing them. So good fortune ran to meet William by hastening his triumph.

An idea of the extent to which the conquest was effected by the mere ravaging of the country is obtained from the following account, written by a monk connected with the abbey of Durham and therefore familiar with the devastation of the North.

Durham

The Normans had devastated Northumbria and certain 55. From other counties of England in the preceding year; during this Symeon of and the following year through almost all England, especially (1069) Northumbria and the counties lying near it, so great a famine arose that, since necessity forced them, they ate the flesh of human beings, horses, dogs, and cats, and whatever usage shrinks from; so severe was it that some sold themselves into perpetual slavery, provided only they might in any way sustain their wretched lives; others started to go into exile, but falling on the journey lost their lives. It was horrible to see the dead bodies decaying in the houses, in the open spaces, and on the streets. The mass decaying with horrible stench, swarmed with worms. Nor was any one left to bury the dead, for all were wiped out either by sword or famine, or had departed from their homes on account of hunger. In the meantime the land was destitute of cultivators, and a broad wilderness existed for nine years. Between York and Durham nowhere was there an inhabited village, while the dens of wild beasts and robbers caused terror to travelers.

56. The Nor

man race

CHAPTER VII

ENGLAND UNDER THE NORMANS, 1066-1154

I. IMMEDIATE RESULTS OF THE CONQUEST

William of Malmesbury, who wrote scarcely fifty years after the Norman Conquest, already recognizes some of its most important effects,-the union of the English and the Normans by intermarriage, the introduction of Norman architecture, and the general revival of the national life.

The Normans, that I may speak of them also, were at that time, and are even now, proudly appareled, delicate in their food, but not excessive. They are a race inured to war, and can hardly live without it; fierce in rushing against the enemy; and where strength fails of success, ready to use stratagem, to corrupt by bribery. As I have related, they live in large edifices with economy; envy their equals, wish to excel their superiors; and plunder their subjects, though they defend them from others. They are faithful to their lords, though a slight offense renders them perfidious. They weigh treachery by its chance of success, and change their sentiments with money. They are, however, the kindest of nations, and they esteem strangers worthy of equal honor with themselves. They also intermarry with their vassals. They revived, by their arrival, the observances of religion, which were everywhere grown lifeless in England. You might see churches rise in every village, and monasteries in the towns and cities, built after a style unknown before; you might behold the country flourishing with renovated rites.

The chronicles of the time constantly refer to the liberal gifts of land which William made to his followers,