Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-06
British BattIes-The Battle of Has
fiuga

The Normans came on with spirit and
alacrity, and ere long the clouds OF arrows
and crossbow bolts filed the air from
both frcnt lines. "God Is our help" was
their cry as they flung themselves against
the palisades which fringed the edge OF
Harod's trench protecting his front, and
stroye with mailed hands TO tear them up
and force an entrance for their cavalry.
"Chrst's Rood The Holy Rood" was
the incessant battle-cry Of the SaxOns, who
shot their arrows thick and fast, hurled
their iavelins, and hewed with their axes,
cleaving shields OF iron and hauberks
Of tempered steel asunder. Many
fell fast before and behind that
formidable palsade, and the Norman
writers tell us how dreadful the fight was,
"and how the English axe IN the hand Of
King Harold, or any other strong man, cut
down the horse and his rider by a single
blow" Haroldan his brother fought there
among the foremost. lie lost an eve by an
arrow. and, though consequently hall blind
and in agony, he still continued 10 fight;
while William ordered his archers 10 press
forward. and "instead OF shooting with
level aim" TO discharge their arrows with
curve, so that they might assail the English
rear. Horse and foot, knight and pike
sheathed in iron on the Saxon trenches.
"Our Lady OF helpl God be our help!
was the cry; but so terrible was the exc
cution done by the English battle-aXes,
mauls, and spears. that they were driven
down into the rayine between the two
hills, where men ard horses, killed,
wounded, or dying, rolled over each other
pell-mell, and many men were even Smoths
cred in their armor and their own blood.
William bad three horses killed under
him, and on the third occasion a cry arose
that he was slain. On this he re-
mounted and rode along the now
shattered line, with his helmet in
his hand, that all might see bin.
exclaiming: 81 am here-look at me!
live, and. by Gods help, shall conquer
Aided by bis hali.brotber, Bishop Odo, he
rallied his troops, and once more they re-
turned to the attack with greater fury (; the
palisades were torn up and an entrance
| forced for the living mass OF men and horses
that poured through. The tide OF battle
began then TO verge from the bill 10 the
heath near the village Of Epiton, north
| ward OF the present town OF Hastings. In
dense masses, however, and fighting despe-
rately, the English threw themselves around
the standard, and Duke William hewed his
way towards II, intent on meeting Harold
face TO face-a result he never achieved;
though Earl Gurtb, who fought near his
royal brother, hurled q spear at the Duke,
who few minutes after slew him with his
own band.
Earl Leofwin fell next under the sword
OF Roger de Montgomerie; but still the
half-blind Harold stood, axe In hand, be-
side his standard, with the orb OF his shield
full OF Norman arrows. Twenty knights
now swore to take the standard or die in
the attempt, just as Harold fell disabled
and faint with loss OF blood. Ten fell {;
among these was Robert Fitz-Ernest,
whose skull was eloven by battle-axe at
the moment his hand was on the
pole. However, the survivors succeeded
In tearing down the English stand
ard and planting in its stead the
consecrated one which had come from
Rome. The golden dragon, "that ancient
| ensign which had shone over so many bat.
tle-felds, was never again borne before a
true English king" as IL, too, fell into the
hands Of the Normans. Then four knights,
one Of whom was Count Eustace, OF Bou-
logne, rushed upon Harold as he lay dying.
They recognized him by his rich armor
and royal Insignia, and barbarously killed
him with many wounds, sorely managing
his body