с н Hiftory of Religion in Great Britain, from the landing of William duke of Normandy, THE HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN. BOOK III. CHA P. I. The civil and military history of Great Britain, from the landing of William duke of Normandy, A. D. 1066, to the death of king John, A. D. 1216. SECTION I. From A. D. 1066, to A. D. 1100. W William lands in ILLIAM duke of Normandy having A.D.1066. spent about eight months in the most vigorous preparations for invading duke of England, and dethroning king Harold, failed Normandy from the harbour of St. Vallori, at the mouth of England. the river Somme, with a great fleet and gallant army, on September 28, A. D. 1066, day after arrived at Pevenfey in Suffex, - VOL. V. B and the At that place A.D. 1066. Harold marches from the north to Haftings. place he landed his troops, horfes, arms, and baggage of all kinds, without any oppofition; and immediately erected a fort, into which he put a garrifon for the protection of his fleet'. From Pevensey he marched to Haftings; where he remained about fifteen days, fortifying his camp, collecting provifions, refreshing his men and horfes, and putting every thing in order for the profecution of his design 2. Harold was at York with his army, celebrating the victory which he had obtained over his brother Tofti and the king of Norway, when he received the news of this formidable invafion. Roufed, but not intimidated, by this intelligence, he put an end to his rejoicings, and began his march towards London 3. When he arrived in that capital, he found his forces much diminished, by the lofs which he had fuftained in the battle of Stamford bridge, and by a great defertion which had taken place among his troops, through discontent at being deprived of their fhare of the booty gained in that battle. In thefe circumftances, he was advifed by his wifeft counfellors, and particularly by his brother Gurth, to remain at London till he had refreshed and recruited his army, or at least not to venture his own perfon with unequal forces. But being flushed with his late victory, he rejected thefe wife and friendly I W. Pictavin. P. 198, 199. Orderic. Vital. p. 500. z Id. ibid. admoni The Battle of Haftings. admonitions with difdain, and hurried towards A.D. 1066. Haftings; where he arrived October 13, and pitched his camp near to that of the Normans ". The two armies did not continue long in that pofition before they came to action. For early on the morning of the 14th of October, A. D. 1066, William duke of Normandy, and Harold king of England, led their forces into the field, and drew them up in order of battle, to determine their important quarrel by the fword. English, who were all on foot, armed with fwords, fpears, and battle-axes, were formed into one deep and compact body; in the centre of which, on a rifing ground, the king, with his two brothers Gurth and Leofwin, placed themselves, near to the royal ftandard. The Norman infantry were drawn up in two lines, the firft compofed of archers and flingers, and the fecond of the heavy-armed troops; the cavalry, commanded by the duke in perfon, being ftationed in the rear, and on the two wings. No fooner was the fignal of battle given by the found of all the inftruments of martial mufic, than the Normans advanced, finging the famous fong of Rolland, and began the action by discharging a prodigious flight of arrows upon the English'. By degrees the two armies approached nearer and: 5 W. Malms. I. 3. p. 57. 6 W. Pictavin. p. 201. 7 W. Malms. 1, 3. p. 57. Hunt. p. 211, Orderic. Vital. p. 500. Gefta Willielmi Ducis, p. 202. Hen. B 2 nearer, A. D. 1066. nearer, and the battle raged with uncommon Hen. Hunt. p. 211. W. Pictavin. p. 203. R. Hoveden, p. 257. Math. Paris, p. 3. Orderic. Vital. p. 501. whom |