From morning till night the scene of bustle and preparation went on, and
when darkness fell the whole host had embarked. Every ship was ordered to
bear a light, and a huge lantern was hoisted at the masthead of the
_Mora_, the duke's own ship, and orders were issued that all vessels
should follow the light. The _Mora_, however, was a quick sailer, and
was not, like the other vessels, deeply laden down with horses and men.
When daylight broke, therefore, she had so far outstripped the rest that no
other sail was in sight, and she anchored until the fleet came up, when the
voyage was continued, and at nine on the morning of Thursday the 28th of
September the Normans landed on English soil, near the village of Pevensey.
The landing was unopposed; the housecarls were away north with their king,
the levies were scattered to their homes. To the surprise of the Normans
who landed in battle array no armed man was to be seen. Parties of mounted
men at once examined the country for miles round, but without finding signs
of the defending army they expected to meet. On the following morning a
small force was left in the Roman fortifications near Pevensey to guard the
ships, hauled up on the beach, from attack, and the duke with his army
marched away along the Roman road to Hastings, where William established
his headquarters and resolved to await the approach of the army of England.
A wooden castle was raised on the height, and the country for miles round
was harried by the Norman horse.
Pages:
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415