in the fight.
Owing probably to this circumstance no attempt was made to oppose the landing of William. That leader, as soon as he had got his troops on shore, commenced the erection of a fort on the spot, and sunk, or as some authorities assert, burnt his ships, which are said to have been above nine hundred in number, without reckoning small craft. They must have been vessels of such size as to carry fifty or sixty men each. It was some time before Harold made his appearance to repel this aggression upon his dominions. But the two armies met at last on the 14th of October, the birth-day of the English king. Harold on that morning was posted on the eminence now occupied by the village of Battle, and his adversary on another rising ground a short distance to the south. A very full and animated account of the fight which ensued (commonly called the Battle of Hastings), has lately been given in an able publication, of which only the first volume has yet appeared, ‘The Biographical History of England, edited by George Godfrey Cunningham;' the writer of which has evidently made himself very completely master of the details given by the various old French and Latin chroniclers, and has caught also not a little of their graphic spirit. The narrative is a great deal too long to be given entire, but we shall select a few passages sufficient to present at least an outline of the course of the battle.
“About nine in the morning, the Norman army began to move, crossed the interval between the two hills, and slowly ascended the eminence on which the English were posted. The banner of St. Peter, as a presage of victory, was borne in the van by Tonstain the Fair,——a dangerous honour, which two of the barons had successively declined. Harold beheld them gradually advance, and as the third division appeared, he broke out into violent exclamations of anger and dismay. He had the advantage of the ground, and having secured his flank by trenches, he resolved to stand upon the defensive, and to avoid all action with the cavalry, in which he was inferior. The men of Kent were placed in front, a privilege which they always claimed as their due. The Londoners had the honour of being the royal body guard, and were posted around the standard. The King himself, on foot, took his station at the head of the infantry, determined to conquer or perish in the action. The Normans rushed to the onset, shouting their national tocsin, ‘God is our help!’ which was loudly answered by the adverse cry of ‘Christ's cross! The Holy cross!’ . . . The battle soon became general, and raged with great fury. The Norman archers advancing, discharged their weapons with effect; but they were received with equal valour by the English, who firmly kept their ground. After the first shower of arrows, they returned to the attack with spears and lances; and again they were obliged to retire, unable to make any impression on their opponents. . . . The battle had continued with desperate obstinacy; and from nine till three in the afternoon, the success on either side was nearly balanced. . . . Disappointed and perplexed at seeing his troops every where repulsed by an unbroken wall of courageous soldiers, the Norman general had recourse to a stratagem. He resolved to hazard a feigned retreat; and a body of a thousand horse were ordered to take flight. The artifice was successful. The credulous English, in the heat of action, followed; but their temerity was speedily punished with terrible slaughter. . . Still the great body of the army maintained its position; for so long as Harold lived and fought, they seemed to be invincible. . . A little before sunset, an arrow, shot at random, pierced his eye: he dropped from his steed in agony; and the knowledge of his fall relaxed the efforts of his followers. . . A furious charge of the Norman horse increased the confusion which the King's wound must have occasioned. . . For a time, the Kentish men and East Saxons seemed to retrieve the fortune of the day. . . At length, the English banner was cut down, and the papal colours, erected in its place, announced that William of Normandy was the conqueror.
