of Chauz [Normandy , east of the Seine), who were accustomed to joust. The English did not joust, nor wear armour on horseback. Axes and bills they held, with such arms they combatted . The man who wishes to strike with an axe has to hold it with his two hands ; he cannot think of covering himself, if he wishes to strike with great force . To strike home and cover at the same time cannot be done, so it seems to me. Upon a height they, the English , took their stand,the Normans placed themselves along the lower ground (val.)
The Normans on foot and on horseback assaulted them like vassals. Then Hugh de Mortimer charged ,and Sinclair overthrew many English . Robert Fitz-Ernest couched his lance, took his shield, reached the standard , fighting with his sword , which was sharp -edged ; he struck an Englishman who was in front, beat him down dead with a single blow , then he drew the weapon back : many a blow he struck the English : he went straight to the standard, for he wished to beat it down, but the English surrounded it, and with their bills slew him , there was he found when search was made, by the standard slain. Count Robert de Mortaigne never kept himself far from the Duke. He was brother to the Duke by his mother : he gave his brother great aid . I do not know how to name all the barons, nor to tell the surnames of all, from Normandy and Bretagne, whom the Duke had in his company. Many were from Maine and Anjou , from Tours and Poitou ,and from Picardy and Boulogne. Great was the people, great the need.
