where the Abbey now stands, bearing the emblem of a fighting man, emblazoned in gold and ornamented with precious stones. The troops were all on foot, and packed closely within the confined space. The Kentish men occupied the post of honour in front; the Londoners formed the second rank; while the remaining Saxons formed the rear. They were armed with swords, bills lances and clubs, but their favourite weapon was the terrible battle-axe they had borrowed from the Norwegians, wielded with both hands and having a blade a foot long. The shields of the Saxons were mostly heart-shaped, like those of the Normans, although some were round and convex. The Normans advanced, and before them rode a Knight who played with his sword, chanting the song of Rowland and Charlemagne until he came upon the enemy, when he threw himself among them, dealing death on every side until he was overpowered. Then the battle began. The Normans attacked the camp in front and on both flanks. The Norman war of “Dieu aide” was answered by the Saxon “Out, out! holy cross!” For some hours the battle raged with fury; Harold’s men stood well together, and woe to the Norman Knight who came within reach of the resistless axe. But no progress was made by the attacking force until William ordered a feigned retreat to be made, when Eustace, Count of Boulogne, followed on the rear of the pursuing Saxons and threw them into disorder. Yet the day was not yet lost! The English rallied, charged the foe, and drove them pell-mell into a ditch [a steep hollow] one over another and made a terrible slaughter. This place was thence termed Malfosse, which became corrupted into Manfosse. This we know from some deeds to have been near Winchester Croft, which still exists, and are therefore able to recognise the spot again. It is probable that the Saxon army had by this time become surrounded by its more numerous foe, and that the feigned retreat was made in a north-west direction. And now the cry was raised that William was killed at Malfosse, and many of the Normans began to flee from the dangerous neighbourhood. William therefore raised his helmet and rushed among the fugitives, crying “Look! I am alive, and, with God’s help, I will conquer!” Odo, Bishop of Bayeux was also foremost in checking the fugitives. The Anglo-Saxons regained their entrenchments, and hour after hour the conflict raged; and, as Wace says, “The battle was up and down; none knew who would conquer and win the land.” The Saxons still kept their compact array, and all the charges of the men-at-arms could not prevail. The arrows of the archers fell harmlessly on their shields until William ordered that flights of -
