The Norman's Strategy deceives The
Saxons
King Harold has
been shot with an arrow just above his eye which has put it
out and many other English soldiers have suffered a similar
fate due to the strategy of the Norman archers. But the Saxons
still continued to defend well.
"The Normans saw
that the English defended themselves well, and were so strong
in their position that they could do little against them. So
they consulted together privily, and arranged to draw off, and
pretend to flee, till the English should pursue and scatter
themselves over the field; for they saw that if they could
once get their enemies to break their ranks, they might be
attacked and discomfited much more easily.
As they had said,
so they did. The Normans by little and little fled, the
English following them. As the one fell back, the other
pressed after; and when the Frenchmen retreated, the English
thought and cried out that the men of France fled and would
never return.
Thus they were deceived by the pretended flight, and great
mischief thereby befell them; for if they had not moved from
their position, it is not likely that they would have been
conquered at all; but, like fools, they broke their lines and
pursued.
The Normans were to be seen following up their stratagem,
retreating slowly so as to draw the English farther on. As
they still flee, the English pursue; they push out their
lances and stretch forth their hatchets, following the Normans
as they go, rejoicing in the success of their scheme, and
scattering themselves over the plain.
And the English
meantime jeered and insulted their foes with words. 'Cowards,'
they cried, 'you came hither in an evil hour, wanting our
lands and seeking to seize our property; fools that ye were to
come! Normandy is too far off, and you will not easily reach
it. It is of little use to run back; unless you can cross the
sea at a leap or can drink it dry, your sons and daughters are
lost to you.'
The Normans bore it all; but, in fact, they knew not what the
English said: their language seemed like the baying of dogs,
which they could not understand. At length they stopped and
turned round, determined to recover their ranks; and the
barons might be heard crying, '_Dex Aie_!' for a halt.
Then the Normans
resumed their former position, turning their faces toward the
enemy; and their men were to be seen facing round and rushing
onward to a fresh melee, the one party assaulting the other;
this man striking, another pressing onward. One hits, another
misses; one flies, another pursues; one is aiming a stroke,
while another discharges his blow. Norman strives with
Englishman again, and aims his blows afresh. One flies,
another pursues swiftly: the combatants are many, the plain
wide, the battle and the melee fierce. On every hand they
fight hard, the blows are heavy, and the struggle becomes
fierce.
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