fixed it, and the varlets on the hill by Mr. Carter's, they could not avoid seeing the disaster,and would in all likelihood become panic-struck as described in the " Roman de Rou :" and this has an important bearing on the question of the position of the Fosse, and to my mind is a strong confirmation of the correctness of my hypothesis,-- for I cannot imagine any other spot on the Battle Field (for there are others, where the routed Normans might come on very awkward ground in the course of their enforced retreat) where the disaster could be seen by camp followers in the rear of the centre of William 's army.
Another point to be borne in mind is that the baggage must have been easily accessible from the army, for we read that Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, William's brother,who was on horseback , observing the disorder of the varlets, rode to them , and after allaying their fears, proceeded to that part of the army that had been discomfited , and strove to rally it. Now , it has always struck me as singular, that at such an important crisis in the battle Odo should have ridden to the rear first, where those in disorder were non -combatants, and only after he had restored order there have directed his attention to what would seem to most a more vital point.
Two solutions of this difficulty suggest themselves to me. One, that he was with the priests, who are expressly named as having ascended a hill close to the varlets, from whence to watch the fight; and then it would be in the natural course of things that he should allay the panic of those, by or through whom he must pass, before setting out for the more -
