William had remounted, but his second horse was also slain. Eustace of
Boulogne offered him his horse, and himself mounting that of one of his
followers they fell together upon the English line, but all the valour of
the duke and his chivalry failed to break it. On the French left the
Bretons had, indeed, succeeded in completely destroying the palisade, but
the levies stood firm, and no impression was made upon their solid line.
The attack had failed, and even William saw that it was hopeless any more
to hurl his troops against the shield-wall, but the manner in which the
English irregulars had been induced to break their array led him to try by
a feigned retreat to induce them to repeat their error. While the fight yet
raged around him he sent orders to the Bretons to turn and flee, and then
if the defenders pursued them to turn upon them while he ordered a portion
of his Norman force to make straight for the gap as soon as the English
left their posts.
The stratagem was successful. Again with exulting shouts the levies poured
out in pursuit of the Bretons. These fled for some distance, and then
suddenly turning fell on their pursuers. Ill-armed and undisciplined as the
levies were, and unable to withstand the attack of such overwhelming
numbers, they bore themselves gallantly. One party took possession of a
small outlying hill, and with showers of darts and stones they killed or
drove off all who attacked them.
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