up to them our goods, our wives, and our daughters: all is promised to them beforehand. They come, not only to ruin us, but to ruin our descendants also, and to take from us the country of our ancestors. And what shall we do? — whither shall we go ? — when we have no longer a country.' The English promised, by a unanimous oath, to make neither peace, nor truce, nor treaty with the invader, but to die, or drive away the Normans.[1]
The 13th of October was occupied in these negotiations: and at night the Duke announced to his men that the next day would be the day of battle. That night is said to have been passed by the two armies in very different manners. The Saxon soldiers spent it in joviality, singing their national songs, and draining huge horns of ale and wine round their camp-fires. The Normans, when they had looked to their arms and horses, confessed themselves to the priests with whom their camp was thronged, and received the sacrament by thousands at a time.
On Saturday the 14th of October was fought the great battle.
It is not difficult to compose a narrative of its principal incidents, from the historical information which we possess, especially if aided by an exa-
- ↑ Thierry
