The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1839-06-11


cut hair, their light and suscint garments
were seen by the affrighted peasantry, who
looked upon their landing from a distance.
with equal terror and establishment. Next
came the men-at-arms, sheathed in their
glittering hauberts and bright hose Of mail,
with conical steel helmets on their heads,
long lances in their hands, and huge two
handed swords transversely girt across their
persons. After them landed the pioneers
the laborers, and carpenters, who made the
compliment OF that immense array, bearing
with them, piece after piece, three fortress
es Of timber, arranged before hand, and pre-
pared to be erected on the instant, wherever
they should come TO land. Last of the
mighty host, Duke William lett his galley,
and the long lines fell into orderly and beau
tiful array, as he was rowed to land. In
leaping to that wished-for shore, the Nor
mans right foot struck the gunwale of the
shallop, and he fell head-long on. the sand,
face downward. Instantly, through the
whole array, deep and shuddering murmur ]
rose-'God guard us-'tis sign Of evil!'
But ere the sounds passed away, he had
sprung to his feet. sWhat is it you fearg' he
shouted, in clear and joyous tones, cor what
dsmays you? .Lo! have seized this earth
in both mine hands, and by the splendor Of
our God, tits yours!'
Loud was the cheer of graduation which
pealed seaward far, and far into the bosom
of the invaded land, at that most brilliant
and successful repartee-and with alacrity
and glee-con6dent Of success, and high in
daring courage-.he Norman host marched,
unopposed, in regular and terrible array, to-
ward Hastings. Here, on the well-known
heights, to this day known by the commence
ratve name of Battle, the wooden fortresses
were speedily erected; trenches were dug;
! and Williams army sat down for the night
upon the land, which was thenceforth to be
their heritage-thencefort for ever more.
The news reached Harold, as he lay at
York. wounded and resting from his labors,
and on the instant, with the victorious army,
he set forth, publishing as he marched along,
his proclamation to all the chiefs of provin-
ccs and shires, to arm their followers, and
meet him with all speed at London. The
western levies came without delay; those
from the north, owing to distance, we're some
time behind; and yet, could Harold have
been brought by any means to moderate his
fierce and desperate impotence, he would,
ere four days had elapsed, have found him
self in command oftwice ten thousand men.
| But irritated to the utmost by the sufferings
of his countrymen, whose lands were pitt
lessly ravaged, whose tenements were burn
| ed for miles round the Norman camp, whose
wives and daughters were subjected to every
species of Insult and indigniiy; the Saxon
King pressed onward. And though his forces
did not amount to one-fourth part of the
great Dukes array, still, he resolved 10 en-
counter them, precipi,ate and furious as a
madman.
i On the eighteenth day after the defeat It
! Tosti and Hadrada, the Saxon army was en-
camped over against the fortified position Of
the invaders On that same day, monk,
Sir Hughes Maigrot, came to find Harold,
with proposals from the foe, offering HIM
! peace on one of three condition either that
5 he should yield the kingdom ptesently-er
: leave it the arbitration Of the Pope-or. final
e ly, decide the matter by appeal to God in
single combat.
3 Toeach and all ofthese proposals, the Sax
1 on answered bluntly in the negative. q
9 will not yield my kingdom! win not leave
e il to the Pope! l will no. meet the Dake il
e single combat!'
n Again the monk returned. Il come again,
}. he said, sfrom William. TELL Harold sal,
s the DIXIE, sif he will hold himself to his an
n cient compact, yield him all the lands be
e yond the Humber; give his brother Gurth
Il all the demesnes mis- father, Goodwin, held
d If he refuse these my last proffers, tell hun
!, before his people, he is perjured liar, &C
e cursed of the Pope, and excommunlcated.-
sr He, and all those that hold to him.
j. But no effect had the bold words of viii
D liam on the stern spirits of the English
p Battle they cried-'no peace with Nor
% mans. Battle-immediate Battlen and will
A. that answer, did the priest return to his EN-
ployer; and either host prepared for the ap
le peal to that great arbiter-the sword!
Fairly the morning broke, which was t
e look upon the slaughter Of SO many thousand
1-|-broad and bright rose the sun, befor'
st whose setting one Of those two magni6cen
IF and gallant armies must necessarily be in
4, volved in utter ruin. As the first rays wos,
d visible upon the eastern sky, Odo, the BISHOP
Is Of Baveux, Williams maternal brother, per
al formed high mass before tho marshalle'
D, troops, wearing his cope and rochot over hi
e iron harness. The holy rites performed b
leaped upon his snow-white charger, an,
b with his truncheon 10 his hand, arrayed tn,
l. lcavalry, which he commanded. It was
ID Glorious spectacle-that mighty host arraye'
( in thsee long columns Of attack, marchin,
.e with slow and orderly precision against tn
- palisaded trenches Of the Saxons. The men
I'd at-arms Of the great Counts Of Boulosne an
b. Pouthisu, composed the first-the secon
e,l being formed by the auxiliary bands Of BIZ
tanv. Potion and Main0-and in the third-