THE NORMAN INVASION AND THE CAMPAIGN OF HASTINGS. August–October, 1066.
§ 1. _The Building of the Fleet._
Success of all William’s negotiations 377–378
Summer, Formation of the Norman fleet; contributions of 1066 ships; gifts of Remigius of Fécamp and of the Duchess Matilda 378–380
Number and character of the ships 381
June 15 Ecclesiastical affairs; Council at Bonneville; Lanfranc Abbot of Saint Stephen’s 381–382
June 18 Consecration of the Holy Trinity at Caen; dedication of Cecily 383
§ 2. _The Embarcation and Voyage of William. August–September, 1066._
August 12 The fleet at the mouth of the Dive 384–386
Delay at the Dive; good order maintained in the army 386–387
Numbers of the army 387
Spies sent by Harold; their treatment by William 388–389
[September William changes his position; probable influence 8] of the disbanding of Harold’s army 389–390
September William sails to Saint Valery; description and 12 history of the place 391–392
September Losses of the fleet; further delay at Saint 12–27 Valery; religious ceremonies and procession 392–395
Wednesday, The south-wind blows; the embarcation 395–397 27
William sets sail; details of the voyage 398–400
Thursday, William lands at Pevensey; history and description 28 of the place 400–402
491 Taking of Anderida by Ælle and Cissa 402–404
Defenceless state of the coast; no resistance to William’s landing 404–405
Details of the landing; William’s ready wit 405–407
Friday, William marches to Hastings; history and importance September of the town; he encamps on the hill 407–409 29
Question of losses and skirmishes; fate of the soothsayer 410–411
William systematically ravages the country 411–412
Robert the son of Wymarc counsels William to retreat; his answer 413–416
§ 3. _The Southern March of Harold. October 1–13, 1066._
October 1? The news brought to Harold at York; messengers from Pevensey and from Hastings 416–419
Harold’s position; his Council at York; he begins his march to London 420–421
Merlswegen in command of the North; Eadwine and Morkere keep back from the war 421–422
General zeal of the nation; charge of parsimony against Harold 422–423
The army joined by the men of Wessex, East-Anglia, and Eastern Mercia; loyalty of the Earldom of Waltheof; special position of the men of Kent and London 423–424
Names of Englishmen preserved; Esegar, Ælfric, Breme, Godric, Thurkill, Eadric the Deacon; the Abbots Leofric and Ælfwig 425–427
October Harold reaches London; he waits for fresh troops 427 5–11
His visit to Waltham; his vow; miracle of the Holy Rood 428–430
Messages between William and Harold; mission of Hugh Margot to Harold; Harold’s counter-message and challenge 430–433
Harold eager for battle; advice of Gyrth; Harold refuses to ravage the land 433–437
Thursday, Harold marches from London; number of his army; October 12 his plan and tactics; he fights on ground of his own choice 437–440
Friday, Harold encamps on Senlac; description of the site; 13 its advantages; he fortifies the hill 441–445
Stories of desertions, spies, &c.; William’s last message and challenge; Harold refuses the single combat 445–450
§ 4. _The Battle. October 14, 1066._
The night before the battle; ceremonial devotion of the Normans; alleged revelry of the English 450–453
Saturday, Battle of Senlac; William’s speech to his army 453–454 14
The Normans march to Telham and arm; story of the reversed hauberk 455–457
Vital brings news of the English army; William vows to build a monastery on Senlac 457–458
Threefold division of William’s army; on the left the Bretons, on the right the French; the Normans in the centre 458–461
Armour and weapons of the Normans 462
The standard and the group around it; William and his brothers; the standard borne by Toustain the White 462–465
The Norman chivalry; William Patry, Roger the Bigod, William Malet 465–467
Three classes of troops in each division; order of the attack 467–468
The two armies in sight; Harold’s speech; story of the English spy; Harold dismounts at the Standard 468–469
Tales of Harold and Gyrth 469–471
Defences and close array of the English; their armour and weapons 471–474
The English ensigns; post of the King and his kinsfolk by the Standard 475–476
Points of attack of the three divisions of the enemy 477
9 A.M. Beginning of the battle; exploits of Taillefer 477–478
First attack; Norman and English war-cries; the Normans beaten back 479–481
Flight of the Bretons on the left; the light-armed English pursue; panic of the Normans; William and Odo recall the fugitives 481–484
Second attack; personal exploits of William; deaths of Gyrth and Leofwine 484–487
Partial success of the French on the right, but the general attack repulsed 487–488
William orders the stratagem of the feigned flight; the English on the right pursue; the Bretons turn 488–490
Slaughter of the French at the detached hill and in the western ravine 490
3 P.M. The Normans ride up the hill; single combats; personal exploits of William, Harold, and others 491–495
The English resistance slackens, but the battle undecided while Harold lives 495–496
6 P.M. The archers shoot in the air; Harold wounded in the eye and disabled 497–498
Fight round the Standard; the Dragon borne off and the Standard beaten down 498
Harold killed by Eustace and others; insults to his body 499–500
Resistance and slaughter of the King’s following 500–501
Escape of the wounded Esegar and Leofric 501
Flight of the light-armed; pursuit of the Normans and slaughter of the pursuers in Malfosse; end of the battle 502–503
Effect of the death of Harold 504
Military estimate of the battle 503–507
§ 5. _The Burial of Harold. October–December, 1066._
William returns to the hill; his midnight feast 507–509
Sunday, Burial of the dead; burial of the English allowed; October 15 discovery of Ælfwig and his monks; Harold’s body not forthcoming 509–510
Osgod, Æthelric, and Gytha ask for the body; William commands that it shall be buried on the sea-shore 511–513
The body found by Eadgyth Swanneshals, and buried on the hill at Hastings by William Malet 513–514
Legend of Harold’s escape, penitence, and death at Chester; mythical character of the story 515–518
1066–1540 Harold’s alleged burial at Waltham; his translation; destruction of his tomb 518–520
1307 The body of Edward the First at Waltham; comparison between Harold and Edward 521–522