dangerous melee. The other, that a man of his known warlike disposition would hardly coop himself up with brother priests to pray whilst such a field was being fought,
but would rather range himself with William 's central host, where we know all William 's kinsmen were; it may be with no direct intention of personally slaying an enemy, but willing to assist his brother with all that coolness, wisdom and energy which he knew so well how to display in times of danger. This being conceded, we should imagine him to be in the immediate rear of the Norman centre. Here he would be only some little distance in advance of the baggage, and would be the first to detect any disorder there; while, at the same time, unable to see the rout of the horsemen on the left, and, therefore, unaware of the cause of the panic behind . But as soon as he rode up the hill, to enquire into the cause of their dismay , he would , while calling on them to halt, witness, with his own eyes, across the valley , the terrible overthrow of the Norman chivalry, and at once regaining the main body, would traverse the rear of the army, till he came to the fatal spot.
Our party was as much taken by surprise at the existence of this Fosse, in this particular part of the field , as the Normans themselves, and after examining it carefully,were fully inclined to endorse my views. In the course of the conversation that ensued , a question was put as to the number of William 's troops. I have entered into this question more fully in the following chapter, but I then stated that I could not bring myself to believe, that more -
