The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-27

Palsrave the historian. asserts that
If Arletta'S pretty feet had not
lwink!cd in the brook snc would not
have fascinated Duke Robert. Of Nor
mandy. II he had not wed her she
would not have become the mother OF
William the Conqueror. IT there had
been no William The Conqueror, there
would have been no battle OF
Hastings. Harold would not have fal
len. no AnGlo-Norman dynasty would
have arisen, and there would nave
been no British empire. But Arletta
feet did twinkle. Hence Hastings, a
fight which changed England and
made America what il is Today.
Hastings was fought IN The year
1866. At that time the state Of Eng,
land, under her last AnGlo-SaXon
kings, closely rcsembled the state of
France under the last Carloringian
princes. The crown was feeble. The
great mobiles were strong and turou,
lent Il has been generally conceded
that for all the cruelty OF the con
Querors it was the Norman conquest
which put the mettie in the blood OF
England and >owed the seed for the
British constitution.
Edward the ConfcsSor. had died
ch;ldless. Although William OF Nor
mandy was his knSman. although
Edward was believed 10 be most
favorably inclined toward William,
and although there is some evidence
that 10 William he promised the Eng.
fish crown. upon Harold. son OF earl
Goodwin. and most popular chleitaIn
in the land. was made the formal
beslowal. But before this Harold
himself. while Il visitor al William s
court. had given formal promise TO
assist the duke in obtaining the Eng.
liSh throne. That William obtained
this oath by the employment of trick
cry, and that he was INSCRIPTIONS in
his method Of coercing Harold, is
fairly evident. But William had AT
least oslensible ground for mdigna-
ton when Harold. finding himself
after Edwards death laudCd by the
priests and thames as Encland's king,
decided that the oath needed no keep
ing. He was duly Amounted. receiv-
Ing from the hands Of the archbishop
mol only the golden crown and Sccp-
ter. but weiThly hattleax. For this
latter bit Of regalia he found very
present need.
William published far and wide
through ChriSlendom the "perjury OF
Harold. proclalming his intention of
gaining his rights BY the sword before
the year should expire. and promising
most dire punishment 10 the per
iurcr." Hr laid his case before the
Pope, but Harold refused 10 arbitrate,
declaring that he would not answer
before an Italian priest for his title
AS an English king" Forthwith the
Pope confirmed William in his claim,
whereupon William raised the holy
banner and half the chivalry Of con
tinental Europe flocked 10 his side for
the privilege Of serving in a struggle
blessed by His Holiness,
Harold prepared for the lnva sion,
but down upon him from the north
swept Harald Hardrarda. Of Norway.
BY a forced march and brilliant
maneuverinG, Harold surprised Har'
aid at Stamford Bridge. completely.
routing and killing him with most Of
his mobiles. II was q striking victory;
but IL was bought at a tremendous
price. for here Harold lost the flower
of his officers and his army. while his
otcupaton In Yorkshire gave William
the opportunity for An unopposed
landing upon the Sussex coast. With
A great array of knights and a lesser
force Of mrn-at-arms--hiS total army
had once numbered 10000, but there
had been some loss through. the
wrecking Of ships and through defec'
lions-he came ashore al Perenser
on the twenty.ninth of September
Harold was still at York rejoicing
over his hard-won victory.
Harold now made the mistake Of
underes tima;ing the military skill Of
the enemy. He might have gathered