160 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[PEHIOD II. 



about ninety years after the battle, when the facts were 

 fresh in the memory of the people. 



This account gives an accurate picture of the method 

 of fighting of that time, and as it contains the details of 

 the most important, most decisive, and most skilful 

 battle of the age, it will be of great interest to the reader 

 to reproduce some extracts from it, in its quaint and 

 picturesque phraseology. After describing the landing 

 and the approach of the two armies towards each other, 

 the poet proceeds ' — 



" William sat on his war horse, and called out Rogier, 

 whom they call de Montgomeri. * I rely much on you,' 

 said he ; * lead your men thitherward and attack them 

 from that side ; William, the son of Osber the seneschal, 

 a right good vassal, shall go with you and help in the 

 attack, and you shall have the men of Boilogne and 

 Poix and all my soldiers. Alain Fergant and Aimeri shall 

 attack on the other side ; they shall lead the Poitevins 

 and the Bretons, and all the barons of Maiue, and I, with 

 my own great men, my friends and kindred, will fight in 

 the middle throng where the battle shall be the hottest. 



" The barons and knights and lancemen were all now 

 armed ; the men on foot well equipped, each bearing 

 bow and sword ; on their heads were caps, and to their 

 feet were bound buskins. Some had good hides which 

 they had bound round their bodies, and many were clad 

 in frocks, and had quivers and bows hung to their girdles. 

 The knights had hauberks and swords, boots of steel, and 

 shining helmets; shields at their necks, and in their 

 hands lances. And all had their cognisances, so that 

 each might know his fellow, and Norman might not strike 

 Norman nor Frenchman kill his countryman by mistake. 

 Those on foot led the way with serried ranks bearing their 

 bows. The knights rode next supporting the archers from 

 behind. Thus both horse and foot kept their course and 

 order of march as they began, in close ranks, at a gentle 

 pace, that the one might not pass or separate from the 

 other. All went firmly and compactly, bearing them- 



• Robert "Wace's Roman de Rou, translated by Taylor, page 171, 

 et seq. 



