.098 



ENGLAND. 



A. II. 106G. 

 AttttuU the 



William 

 prepares to 

 invade Enj? 



Ml 



Eng- 



H. t Nor- 



i dc- 



feud* 



pernuded Edward to transfer die dukedom to Morcar, 

 whose titter he toon after married ; and, by his inte- 

 rest, procured the government <>t' Mcrcia for Edwin. 

 TtiK marriage WM tin- first circumstance which open- 

 i-d the eye* of William to the insincerity of Harold ; 

 hut this nul.lt man had so secured the ari'c. tions of his 

 countrymen, that he now openly declared his preten- 

 sions to the throne. 



I'll ward, worn out with ape, weak and irresolute, 

 though hostile to the claims of Harold, yet employed 

 no decisive measures for securing the -iic-ccssion to the 

 Duke of Normandy ; and, while still undetermined 

 bow to act, he was cut off by death in the 65th year 

 of hit age, and 25th of his reign. Harold immediate- 

 ly ascended the throne without opposition. The voice 

 of the people supported his claim, and he was crown- 

 ed the day after Edward's death, by Aldrcd, archbishop 

 of York. His private virtues also entitled him to a 

 crown, which might be considered as elective ; but he 

 posseted Init tor a short time what lie was so worthy and 

 sble to wear. William of Normandy could not conceal 

 his disappointment, at the intelligence of Harold's exal- 

 tation : he had indulged himself with the ho|>e of an 

 easy accession to the crown of England ; but he now 

 saw it torn from his brow, by one equal in abilities to 

 himself, and who had acquired, by his many virtues, 

 the love and confidence of his subjects. His indigna- 

 tion burst forth in menaces and upbraidings : he dis- 

 patched an embassy to Harold to reproach him with 

 his breach of faith, and to demand an immediate re- 

 signation of the throne of England, of which, by the 

 will of Edward, he was the rightful heir. Harold cool- 

 ly replied, that an oath was only binding when volun- 

 tary : his was extorted by fear, and therefore could not 

 be regarded as obligatory. He had obtained the crown 

 by the unanimous voice of the nation : he should prove 

 himself worthy of their choice, by maintaining to the 

 last those liberties which they had entrusted to him ; 

 and he was detennined to lose his kingdom only with his 

 life. William was prepared for this answer ; and, as he 

 had resolved upon prosecuting his claim by force of 

 arms, he continued his levies. His intention was no 

 sooner made known, than he was joined by numerous 

 adventurers from different parts of Europe, who, im- 

 patient of peace and tranquillity, were ready to em- 

 bark in any enterprize which promised them plunder 

 or renown. He thus found no difficulty of completing 

 his armament, which, besides his own troops, who were 

 distinguished for their valour and discipline, was com- 

 posed of the flower of the continental warriors, com- 

 manded by the most celebrated champions of the age. 

 He was also encouraged by the Emperor Henry IV. 

 who promised to guarantee his Norman dominions du- 

 ring his absence ; and by Pope Alexander II. who sent 

 him a consecrated banner, and a ring with one of St 

 Peter's hairs in it. 



William, in order to divert Harold's attention from 

 his own preparations, and to embarrass his affairs the 

 more, excited Tosti, and Halfagar, king of Norway, to 

 make a descent upon England. This they did with a 

 considerable army, and overran all the northern parts 

 of the kingdom. They were first opposed by the Dukes 

 of Northumberland and Mereia, whom they defeated 

 and put to flight ; but Harold having hastily collected 

 an army, engaged them at Stanford. The Norwegi- 

 an* made ;i most obstinate resistance, but were at last 

 totally routed. Tosti and Halfagar fell in the action ; 

 and the Norwegian fleet became the spoil of the con- 

 queror. Prince Olave, the son of Halfagar, however, 



I 



was generously restored to liberty, and allowed to de- 

 put with 20 vessels. 



The news of this defivt spread the greatest joy 

 throughout the kingdom : but their joy was .-.HIM re- 

 pressed by the intelligence, tl...t the Duke of Norman- 

 dy had landed in Su^i-x with a lorinidah,- 

 60,000 men. William h.id been -nine time di-lai'm-d 

 by contrary winds; but, as Harold had dismissed his 

 fleet, on receiving false intelligence that William had 

 discontinued his preparations, he met with nu other 

 ob-Mcles in his voyage. He quietly disembarked, and 

 prepared for the arrival of the I-M< iiiy. 



The \ictory of Stanford had so weakened the Eng- 

 lish army, that it may l>e regarded as the cause of Ha- 

 rold's subsequent overthrow. Fie had lost many of his 

 bravest officers and soldiers, whose place he could sup- 

 ply only with raw and undisciplined troops, little capa- 

 ble of resisting the discipline and valour of the Nor- 

 mans. Elated, however, with success, and relying on 

 the confidence and bravery of his subjects, he hasten- 

 ed forward to meet his new invader. His brother ( iurth 

 remonstrated with him on the danger of staking his 

 fortune on the issue of a battle, while he had easier 

 means of victory in his power. It was depriving him- 

 self of those very advantages which he possessed over 

 the invader. He was in the midst of his resources, 

 surrounded and beloved by his people ; while the des- 

 perate situation of the enemy required a speedy termi- 

 nation to the contest. The Norman leader possessed 

 the greatest military talents, and his troops had been 

 long familiar with conquest. Their valour and disci- 

 pline rendered them more formidable than their num- 

 bers ; and, as they had full confidence in the abilities 

 of their chief, they would fight to the last extremi- 

 ty. But if their ardour was allowed to cool for want 

 of action ; if they were harassed with skirmishes, and 

 straitened in provisions, they would be compelled to 

 retire, or fall an easy and bloodless prey. If, how- 

 ever, he was determined upon an engagement, he en- 

 treated him not to risk his own person, and thus de- 

 prive his country of its chief resource in resisting a 

 foreign dominion. 



Harold was deaf to persuasion, and approached the 

 Norman camp at Hastings. He offered William a sum 

 of money if he would depart the kingdom. William 

 returned, that he must resign the kingdom, or hold it 

 of him in fealty, or submit his cause to the pope, or 

 fight him in single combat. Harold replied, that the 

 god of battles would determine their differences. 



The hostile armies were encamped in sight of each 

 other during the night, and waited with anxiety for the 

 return of day. The English passed the night with 

 songs and feasting ; the Normans in silence and prayer. 

 The dawn of morning beheld both annies in battle ar- 

 ray. William harangued his soldiers on the greatness 

 of the prize for which they were to contend ; and re- 

 presented to them the inevitable destruction which 

 awaited them, should they fail of success. His army 

 was divided into three lines: the first, consisting of 

 archers and light-armed infantry, was led by Roger de 

 Montgomery ; the second, composed of heavy-armed 

 battalions, was commanded by Charles Mattel ; while 

 he placed himself at the head of the cavalry. They 

 advanced to the attack, singing the song of Roland. 

 Harold had drawn up his army on a rising ground, 

 and had secured his flank by deep trenches. He com- 

 manded on foot the Kentish men, who were placed in 

 the van, and encouraged his troops, by sharing with 

 them the post of danger. He wae resolved to stand 



History. 



Arrival of 



William. 





The battle 

 of Hasuu 



Octob. 11. 

 1066. 





