The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-08-16
By CAPT. ROLAND F. ANDREWS

Pulgrave, the historian, asserts that
Arletta's pretty feet had not twinkled
In the brook she would not have fasci-
mated Duke Robert of Normandy. II
he had not wed her she would not
have become the mother of William the
Conqueror. If there had been no Will
liam the COnquerOr there would have
been no battle of Hastings, Harold
would not have fallen, no AnglO-NOr-
man dynasty would have arisen, and
there would have been no British en-
pire. But Arletta's feet did twinkle.
Hence Hastings, fight which changed
England and made America what 1t
Is today.
Hastings was fought in the year
1068. At that time the state of Eng
land, under her last AnglO-Saxon
kings, closely resembled the state Of
France under the last Carlovingiar
princes. The crown was feeble. The
great mobiles were strong and turbu'
lent. 1t has been generally conceded
that for all the cruelty of the con-
querors 1t was the Norman conquest
which put the mettle in the blood OF
England and sowed the seed for the
British constitution.
Edward the COnfesSor had died
childless. Although William Of Nor
mandy was his kinsman, although Ed
ward was believed to be most favor.
ably inclined toward William, and al.
though there is some evidence that ia
william he promised the English
crown, upon Harold, son of Earl God
win and most popular chieftain In the
land, was made the formal bestOwal
But before this Harold himself, while
visitor at Williams court, had given
formal promise to assist the duke In
obtaining the English throne. That
William obtained this oath by the en-
plOyment of trickery and that he was
unScrupulous in his method Of Coercing
Harold, Is fairly evident. But William
had Mt least ostensible ground for In
dignatiOn when Harold, finding him
self after Edwards death lauded by
the priests and thames as England's
king, decided that the oath needed nc
keeping. He was duly anolnted, receiv
Ing from the hands of the Archbishop
not only the golden crown and scepter
but weighty battleax. For this latter
bit of regalia he found very present
need.
William published far and wide
through Christendom the perjury" OF
Harold, prOcIaImIng his intention OF
gaining his rights by the sword be
fore the year should expire, and prom
Using most dire punishment to the "per
jurer." He laid his case before the
pope, but Harold refused to arbitrate
declaring that he would not "answel
before an italian priest for his titlt
as an English king" Forthwith th'
pope confirmed William in his claim
whereupon William raised the hol!
banner, and half the chivalry Of CONT
mental Europe focked to his side fol
the privilege (2) of serving in strug
gle blessed by his holiness.
Harold prepared for the invasion
but down upon him from the nOrtl
swept Harald Hardrarda of Norway
BY a forced march and brilliant ma
neuvering, Harold surprised Harald a
Stamford Bridge, completely routing
and killing him with most Of his mobiles
It was striking victory, but it wa'
bought at tremendous price, for here
Harold lost the flower of his Officers
and his army, while his occupation II
Yorkshire gave William the Opportu
nifty for an unopposed landing upon tht
Sussex coast. With a great array o
knights and lesser force Of men-at
arms-his total army had once nun
bered 6O,000 but there had been som,
loss through the wrecking of ships ant
through defectiOns-he came ashor'
at Pevensey on the Goth of September
Harold was still at YorL rejoicing owe
his hard-won victory.
Harold now made the mistake o
Understanding the military skill o
the enemy. He might have gathered
an army greater in size than Williams
but his victory over Hardrarda hat
given him great confidence. Raisini
only small force in London, he at
tempted another forced march, hopin
to surprise the Normans as he had tn
Norwegians. William lay in an arme,
camp at Hastings, Sut he made skillfu
employment Of a cavalry screen, there
by employing the same methods Of pre-
lection used by modern generals, unit
the airplane came into the field. TIL
horse, falling back in good order
warned William, and dashed Harold
hope for surprise. Therefore h
halted seven miles from the Normal
lines, sending out spies, who made tn
curious mistake of taking the Norma
soldiers for priests, since they wer
short-haired and shaven. Harold
generals, realizing the numerical inft
riority Of their forces, would have ha
him retreat upon London, leaving tn
Saxon fleet to cut Williams line G
communication with his base, but t
e-N-~.NNN-NN~~NNNs~N~UN N~~NG~~uNS~~~~S~SN~
MANY VARIETIES ne TuRlE7