Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-20
rHw rrBIp OF HASTINGS.
Where tho Norman Crushed the
saxon S22 Years Ago.

saxon S22 Years Ago.
written for the Gazette and Journal.
The conquest of England by the Nor
mans, S22 years ago, proved o turning
point OF Providence, that has left one OF
the strongest marked features upon sub
sequert history, and what school girl or
boy has not read OF William the Con-
queror and Harold, the Apglo-Saxon
kingp
Well, on bright, warm, summer day,
some years ago, stood under tho or at
watch oak and looked over the field
where the conflict took place between tho
force and fortunate Norman nnd the
brave but unfortunate Saxon.
II was on Monday, the oath OF July.
On Saturday, the 22d, had CROSSED tho
English channel from Calais TO Dover
and made my way directly to CANTERBURY,
whore spent the Sabbath. II Was very
hot day, even 10 an American and for
this, rs one reason, worshiped in the
grand old Cathedral the thick, stone
walls OF which protected us from tho out
side oppression. In ono Of the cicistcrs
OF the building i saw tho spot whore
Thomas A. Beckett had been slain, and in
one of the chapels, with glad surprise,
found the tonic, surmornted with mar
BILE effigy OF my historical faYorite, Ed
ward, the Black Prince, this gloves and
sword that he used at Greasy hanging
high up above :,
The next morning l travelled by rail
from Canterbury to Hastings, and with.
out alightiug from the train or scarcely
observing the to an,T passed on to Battle,
as the field of conflict Is called. From
battle station walked up through the
little struggling villoge, ON my way peep
ing into the ancient parish church, whose
doors / found closed. Battle Abbey,
too, Yves unfortunately shut, being open
tc visitors only Oh set days, or which
Monday was IN exception.
After dining q. tic best looking inn
md inquiring my wey, proceeded to
that part OF tho fi,id Already noticed.
| The watch oak, was informed by some
hay makers, marked the spot where
Harold stood TO reconnoitre the mar
shaded Normons where, also, he 20.
ceived his own advancing forces, formed
the battle array behind long line Of
waited fence and gave directions for tho
coming strife. And we'll dit snch posi-
ton anBwer fer thefe yarious purposes.
The oak is probably the descen liant OF
some huge progenitor that stood there in
HArold's day, growing ihe hill that
auciently formed portion Of round
topped ridgs, extending east and west,
parallel with the coast below.
1t wes O'Clock, pm, Greenwich time,
and the sun was shining on my right
hand as locked directly down, towards
the zen. The bright English channel lay
before me, seven miles distant, the ground
slipping for aome distance and then rising
in second ridge, but not so high as to
hinder full view OF the water l had
under my eyes evary point embraced in
the great struggle, and ii WAC not hard
for well.insttucted Imagination to al
the outlying space with Dovips warriors
and bring to tho cara tho din aud outcries
of the mortal strife. 10 my right, ia /
southwest direction, prominent, ON
stood forth, called Bseohy Hcad Oh M,
left, TO the southeast, YVES The town d
Hastings, built psrtly on tho brow ant
partly At tho foot Of the cliR and De
tween the two points diacuned PeYsa
sey bGy, from whose broad bosom the ip
vaders made their landing from thou
sand transports on the 29.h Of September
lo66.
The battle was not fought on the spo
where the Normans dissmbarked nor o
soon ns they came ashore, for William q
, first fond no enemy 70 crrcse him
On the uext day AFTER isndiag III marched
. eastward as te- ~ Hastings, Gnd near tht
: town, h craSgy hill, he took pos
!. and fortified his camp.
Here he remained unmoleatej for twt
! weeks, for Harold had been called north
as far as Scarborough, TO oppose an in
: vasion of Norwegians, led, in part, by hi
. brother Tostig.
!, Harold, having completely rspulse!
u these invaders OF York, on the 25th o
September, hurried back to meet hi
y more formidable enemy, and the decisiv
/ battle WAS fought on the 14th of Octobe
following. 1t was hard tonight BATH
IS on both sides, when 60080 Normsna
}. with srmored cavalry and cross. bowmen
u whose arrows were more sure and fata
Is than mimic bAlls, met the Saxon hosts
10 with their giant battls.RIes, the Kentis
. men ia front, each side knowing ther
was no retreat The conflict lasted fror
d o'clock il the morning till sunset
t. more than fourth Of the Normaus beiu
10 Fihtu duu ulluOht huN WnOlB DOuy or I'll
|. Ssxons yet the issue might have bee
r different had not the brave Harold falle
2, under the forcetul artillery Of the Ion,
boWmsn
AZ As looked out from the watch oak a
q objest that showed how the tide of batt
4. swayed, took my attention, about mi
N distant down the slope and in liz
il northward With Hastings. This was Bs
IN tie Abbey, reproduction il not in greI
part, the remains OF sacred ediiice. g.
!. up by the corqGoror, 10 mark the So,
- about which clustered the last heroism
o the day. To the Ssxons, it was Ii
y, melancholy ending Of tbe strife, for he
% Harold's standard was finally plarte
=, y here the brunt OF the conflict took plac
~ here lay, highest and broadcast, the hea,
OF the slain, and here came down ii
u fatal arrow from its upwnrd aimed hie
cd that pierced the brain aud stretched i
e. royal Saxon in agony at the foot Of l
nc gonfalon
as Near this building may still be q
aa served o depression in the ground, viii
d. then received the flooaa of human bio
81 and bears to this day the name OF s
ny Lac, the Bloody Lake. TRAVELLER.
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70 mntl af HyafDs,f