INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE

During the engagement some of the Normans had given way, and a report having gone abroad that William had fallen, a panic ensued. The Duke, seeing the confusion, rushed into the thickest of the fight, and forced his wavering soldiers once more into the conflict.

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His helmet was thrown from his head, and with flashing eye, and an indignant countenance, he cried: "Behold me! I live, and will yet with God's assistance. What madness induces you to fly? What way can be found for your escape? They, whom, if you will, you may kill like cattle, are driving and destroying you. You fly from victory and deathless honour. You run upon ruin and everlasting disgrace. If you retreat, not one of you but will perish."

FINDING THE BODY OF HAROLD.

After the battle, Harold's wife and mother presented themselves before the Conqueror, and with dishevelled hair, and tears in their eyes, begged the dead body of the King, offering as a ransom its weight in gold.

William refused to grant their request, and ordered the body to be buried on the beach, adding with a sneer: "He guarded the coast while he was alive; let him continue to protect it after death." By stealth however, or by bribes, the royal remains were removed from this site and buried at Waltham Abbey.

Although William could afford this sneer over the remains of his fallen enemy, he would permit none other to show them disrespect, for a Norman soldier had the brutality to pierce the thigh of the dead monarch with his lance, for which act William disgraced him on the field.

ORIGIN OF THE NORMANS.

It is a popular error to suppose that England was conquered by Frenchmen, under the leadership of William the Norman.

In the early part of the tenth century a band of piratical adventurers issued from the forests of Scandinavia, under the guidance of Rollo, a Norwegian Chieftain, and having conquered the province of Neustria, extending from the river Ept to the confines of Brittany, were received at length as subjects by Charles the Simple, on condition of their becoming Christians, and holding their lands of the French crown. Having thus become possessed of so fine a tract of country, the Normans adopted the more civilised manners of those among whom they dwelt; built cities and castles, and cultivated the land. From about 911 A.D., Neustria was called Normandy, after its new masters, who, from having originally emerged from the upper parts of Europe, were known as Northmen or Normans

Born A.D. 1027. Crowned Christmas-day, 1066. Married Matilda, daughter of the Count of Flanders. Died 1087, at Rouen. Buried at Caen, in Normandy.

SUMMARY.

WILLIAM I. was the son of Robert le Diable, Duke of Normandy, and

Arletta, daughter of a tanner at Falaise. At a very early age this Prince was distinguished among his companions for remarkable strength, courage, and decision of character. He appears to have founded his claim to the crown of England upon a promise or bequest of Edward the Confessor, who was asserted to have named the Norman Prince as his successor to the English throne. In order further to support his claims, on the occasion of a visit paid by Harold to the court of Rouen, William required the English Earl to swear homage to him as his superior lord; and to make this ceremony more impressive and sacred, Harold confirmed his homage upon oath taken over some holy relics. Previously to commencing the war, William sent ambassadors to Harold, pointing out that he had

COIN OF WILLIAM I.

committed perjury and sacrilege by accepting the crown of England, and had thus placed himself out of the pale of mercy.

The Duke of Normandy, having completed his preparations, sailed from the French coast and landed at Pevensey, in Sussex. A great victory was gained by William on the spot since occupied by Battle Abbey, near Hastings. Harold and great numbers of his chief nobles were slain, and the Conqueror at once marched to London. After his coronation he made a progress through the kingdom, and was everywhere received and acknowledged as the Sovereign. He bestowed honours and rewards on his Norman followers, who, building for themselves strong castles, were thus enabled to overawe the people who dwelt in the adjacent districts.

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NORMAN ARMS.

The Conqueror was not, however, permitted quietly to enjoy the fruits of his one victory, for the English, stubborn then as now, somewhat recovering from the effects of the blow which for a while had paralysed them, formed themselves into powerful bands, under the native Earls, Edwin and Morcar, and taking advantage of the King's absence in Normandy, were preparing a general massacre of the invaders. These disturbances continued until the year 1070, when William determined to make such an example as should strike terror into the hearts of those who rebelled from his authority. At the head of a powerful army, he marched northward, destroying not only men, women, and children, but also the towns, villages, and crops, so that those who escaped from the sword perished from famine or exposure. It is said that 100,000 souls were thus cut off in a thinly-peopled district.

After suppressing, with a vigorous hand, an insurrection among his own immediate followers, William found himself at war with his son. The King had solemnly declared that should he succeed in conquering England, he would abandon his continental possessions to the government of his son Robert. The Prince, on claiming the fulfilment of this promise, was met with a refusal; and war commenced, during which the father and son came into personal collision.

It was not until 1078 that the Conqueror found time and opportunity to devote to the administration of his new dominions. About that period he ordered Domesday-Book to be compiled, which contains an account of all the property in the kingdom, whether landed or personal; how many inhabitants, divided into their separate grades of lords, freemen,

and serfs; how many men were capable of bearing arms; the amount of the taxes, and various other important items of administration. This remarkable book is preserved to this day in the Public Record Office. William's other institutions were the Feudal and Forest laws, and the establishment of the Curfew.

For some time disputes had been pending between the Kings of England and France, and a sarcastic allusion having been made by the latter, the fiery temper of the Norman was excited, and he at once prepared for war. He entered France, and according to his usual custom, desolated the country wherever he passed. Having captured the ancient city of Mantes, he ordered it to be utterly destroyed by fire; and riding out to satisfy himself that his commands were obeyed, his horse stepped on a red-hot cinder, and plunged violently. His rider was bruised by the pommel of the saddle, slow fever ensued, and at the age of sixtythree William the Conqueror departed from among men.

WILLIAM GOING A WOOING.

Having heard that Baldwin, Earl of Flanders, was father of a very beautiful daughter, William, being then Duke of Normandy, sent ambassadors requesting the hand of this lady in marriage. To his entreaty Earl Baldwin gladly consented, but the lady objected to be wooed in such an unknightly manner, and refused to wed the husband chosen for her. Not content with a direct denial of his suit, Matilda of Flanders spoke slightingly of the Duke, and her words having been reported to William, he mounted his war-horse, and, attended by a few followers, rode rapidly off to Lille. He alighted at the palace gates, forced himself into Matilda's apartments, dragged her by the hair round the room, and then returned to his dukedom.

Baldwin, to resent the insult, made war upon the Norman territories, but being pressed by William, a conference was held during which the Duke demanded the hand of the obstinate damsel as the price of his friendship. On being told this, perhaps pleased with William's constancy, Matilda said "it pleased her well," and she became the wife of the Conqueror.

Being asked at a future time how she could ever have forgiven the insult that had been offered to her, she said, "Because I did not know the Duke so well then as I do now; for he must be a man of high courage and daring who would venture to come and beat me in my father's house."

WILLIAM'S GREAT STRENGTH.

When five years old, a miniature army of boys was put under William's command, and even there he maintained sovereign power, by the force of his physical strength, and the power of his will.

It is recorded, that, when on horseback, and riding at full speed, he could bend a bow and discharge arrows of such length and weight that no other knight could use them.

He was a learned and accomplished prince, and at the age of eight, is said to have been able to read and explain Cæsar's Commentaries.

CORONATION OF WILLIAM I.

On Christmas day, 1066, the Duke of Normandy caused himself to be crowned in Westminster Abbey, and in order to prevent any attempt at seditious riots, he surrounded the building with a body of his most trusted troops. While the ceremony was proceeding, the Archbishop of York, holding the crown in his hand, turned to the assembled congregation and demanded if they were willing to accept the Duke of Normandy for their King. They cheered in their loudest tones. William's guards, who were stationed outside the building, mistaking the applause for an attack on their master, set fire to the surrounding suburb. The sacred abbey was soon licked by the devouring flames-the houses at that period being built mostly of wood. Nor would the Normans be appeased or attempt to stop the progress of the conflagration, until their chief presented himself in his diadem and coronation robes.

BANQUET AT WINCHESTER.

William would seem to have been pleased with the sensations produced by coronation and gorgeous display, knowing most probably the effect of splendour on the public mind. Having sent to Normandy for his wife, Matilda, he chose to be re-crowned

with her at Winchester. The ceremony was followed by a banquet, which has afforded precedents for nearly all similar celebrations. It was here that the office of Champion was instituted, for, when the whole company were seated, a knight in complete armour, and with lance in rest, rode up the centre of the hall; pausing before the throne, he three times repeated this challenge: "If any person denies that our most gracious Sovereign, William, and his Queen, Matilda, are not King and Queen of England, he is a false-hearted traitor, and here, I, as Champion, do challenge him to single combat." No person was bold enough to accept the gage, but the incident of course had its intended effect.

MOUNTED SOLDIER

ROBERT, WILLIAM, AND HENRY.

Prince Robert, at no time on the most friendly terms with his brothers, was roused into positive frenzy by the following incident :

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The court was resident at L'Aigle, in Normandy. The two younger Princes, either from a love of mischief or to show their contempt for