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The Battle of Hastings, 1066
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from
The Anglo Saxon Chronicle |
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News
of the arrival of the Normans in the south reached King Harold of
England shortly after he defeated the Norsemen at the Battle of
Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire. He and his men immediately marched
south to intercept the invaders. This account of the Battle of Hastings,
Harold's defeat and the conquest of England by the French comes
from the Anglo Saxon Chronicle and was probably written not long
after the actual events. Compare the tone of this version of events
with that of William
of Malmesbury, who wrote his version many years later. |
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And Harold, king of the
English, then came over the bridge, followed by his army; and there
they made a great slaughter, both of the Norwegians and of the Flemings.
But Harold let the king's son, Edmund, go home to Norway with all
the ships. He also gave quarter to Olave, the Norwegian king's son,
and to their bishop, and to the earl of the Orkneys, and to all
those that were left in the ships; who then went up to our king,
and took oaths that they would ever maintain faith and friendship
unto this land. Whereupon the King let them go home with twenty-
four ships. These two general battles were fought within five nights.
Meantime Earl William came up from Normandy into Pevensey on the
eve of St. Michael's mass; and soon after his landing was effected,
they constructed a castle at the port of Hastings. This was then
told to King Harold; and he gathered a large force, and came to
meet him at the estuary of Appledore. William, however, came against
him unawares, ere his army was collected; but the king, nevertheless,
very hardly encountered him with the men that would support him:
and there was a great slaughter made on either side. There was slain
King Harold, and Leofwin his brother, and Earl Girth his brother,
with many good men: and the Frenchmen gained the field of battle,
as God granted them for the sins of the nation. Archbishop Aldred
and the corporation of London were then desirous of having child
Edgar to king, as he was quite natural to them; and Edwin and Morkar
promised them that they would fight with them. But the more prompt
the business should ever be, so was it from day to day the later
and worse; as in the end it all fared. This battle was fought on
the day of Pope Calixtus: and Earl William returned to Hastings,
and waited there to know whether the people would submit to him.
But when he found that they would not come to him, he went up with
all his force that was left and that came since to him from over
sea, and ravaged all the country that he overran, until he came
to Berkhampstead; where Archbishop Aldred came to meet him, with
child Edgar, and Earls Edwin and Morkar, and all the best men from
London; who submitted then for need, when the most harm was done.
It was very ill-advised that they did not so before, seeing that
God would not better things for our sins. And they gave him hostages
and took oaths: and he promised them that he would be a faithful
lord to them; though in the midst of this they plundered wherever
they went. Then on midwinter's day Archbishop Aldred hallowed him
to king at Westminster, and gave him possession with the books of
Christ, and also swore him, ere that he would set the crown on his
head, that he would so well govern this nation as any before him
best did, if they would be faithful to him. Neverrhetess he laid
very heavy tribute on men, and in Lent went over sea to Normandy,
taking with him Archbishop Stigand, and Abbot Aylnoth of Glastonbury,
and the child Edgar, and the Earls Edwin, Morkar, and Waltheof,
and many other good men of England. Bishop Odo and Earl William
lived here afterwards, and wrought castles widely through this country,
and harassed the miserable people; and ever since has evil increased
very much. May the end be good, when God will! |
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