* CHAPTER XVIII, HOW THE MEN OF ENGLAND MADE HEADY, AND WHO THEY WERE
:<span style="font-style: italic; color: green">The right of the men of London is to guard the king's body, to place themselves around him, and to guard his '''standard'''; and they were accordingly placed by the '''standard''', to watch and defend it.
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:<span style="font-style: italic; color: green">When Harold had made all ready, and given his orders, he came into the midst of the English, and dismounted by the side of the '''standard''', Leofwin and Gurth, his brothers, were with him; and around him he had barons enough, as he stood by his gonfanon, which was in truth a noble one, sparkling with gold and precious stones. After the victory William sent it to the apostle, to prove and commemorate his great conquest and glory” [TAYLOR 1837:p.177]
* CHAPTER XIX. HOW THE THREE NORMAN COMPANIES MOVED ON TO ATTACK THE ENGLISH.
:<span style="font-style: italic; color: green">Then his brother Gurth drew near, and they placed themselves by the '''standard'''; each praying God to protect them. [TAYLOR 1837:p.184]
* CHAPTER XXIII. THE ROLL OF THE NORMAN LORDS CONTINUED.
:<span style="font-style: italic; color: green">The Normans drew their swords and hewed down the barricades, and the English in great trouble fell back upon their '''standard''', where were collected the maimed and wounded. [TAYLOR 1837:p.235]
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<br>:<span style="font-style: italic; color: green">Robert Fitz Erneis[55] fixed his lance, took his[Pg 240] shield, and galloping towards the '''standard''' with his keen-edged sword, struck an Englishman who was in front, killed him, and then drawing back his sword, attacked many others, and pushed straight for the '''standard''', trying to beat it down; but the English surrounded it, and killed him with their bills. He was found on the spot, when they afterwards[Pg 241] sought for him, dead, and lying at the '''standard's''' foot.[TAYLOR 1837:p.240]
* CHAPTER XXIV. WHAT DEEDS OF ARMS DUKE WILLIAM DID; AND HOW HAROLD WAS SLAIN AND THE ENGLISH FLED.
:<span style="font-style: italic; color: green">Duke William pressed close upon the English with his lance; striving hard to reach the '''standard''' with the great troop he led; and seeking earnestly for Harold, on whose acconnt the whole war was. [TAYLOR 1837:p.249]<br>
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:<span style="font-style: italic; color: green">And now the Normans had pressed on so far, that at last they reached the '''standard'''. There Harold had remained, defending himself to the utmost; but he was sorely wounded in his eye by the arrow, and suffered grievous pain from the blow. An armed man came in the throng of the battle, and struck him on the ventaille of his helmet, and beat him to the ground; and as he sought to recover himself, a knight beat him down again, striking him on the thick of his thigh, down to the bone.[TAYLOR 1837:p.252]
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And now <br>:<span style="font-style: italic; color: green">The '''standard''' was beaten down, the Normans had pressed on golden gonfanon was taken, and Harold and the best of his friends were slain; but there was so farmuch eagerness, and throng of so many around, seeking to kill him, that I know not who it was that slew him. <br>:<span style="font-style: italic; color: green">The English were in great trouble at having lost their king, and at last they reached the duke's having conquered and beat down the '''standard'''. There Harold had remained, defending himself to the utmost; but he was sorely wounded in his eye by the arrowthey still fought on, and suffered grievous pain from defended themselves long, and in fact till the blowday drew to a close. An armed man came in Then it clearly appeared to all that the throng of the battle'''standard''' was lost, and struck him on the ventaille of his helmetnews had spread throughout the army that Harold, for certain,[Pg 255] was dead; and beat him to all saw that there was no longer any hope, so they left the ground; field, and as those fled who could [TAYLOR 1837:p.254]<br><br>:<span style="font-style: italic; color: green">Then he sought returned thanks to recover himselfGod, a knight beat him down again, striking him and in his pride ordered his gonfanon to be brought and set up on high, where the thick English '''standard''' had stood; and that was the signal of his thighhaving conquered, and beaten down the '''standard'''. And he ordered his tent to be raised on the bonespot among the dead, and had his meat brought thither, and his supper prepared there.[TAYLOR 1837:p.252256]
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The '''standard''' was beaten down, the golden gonfanon was taken, and Harold and the best of his friends were slain; but there was so much eagerness, and throng of so many around, seeking to kill him, that I know not who it was that slew him. <br>
The English were in great trouble at having lost their king, and at the duke's having conquered and beat down the '''standard'''; but they still fought on, and defended themselves long, and in fact till the day drew to a close. Then it clearly appeared to all that the '''standard''' was lost, and the news had spread throughout the army that Harold, for certain,[Pg 255] was dead; and all saw that there was no longer any hope, so they left the field, and those fled who could p.254
Then he returned thanks to God, and in his pride ordered his gonfanon to be brought and set up on high, where the English '''standard''' had stood; and that was the signal of his having conquered, and beaten down the '''standard'''. And he ordered his tent to be raised on the spot among the dead, and had his meat brought thither, and his supper prepared there. p.256
:<span style="font-style: italic; color: green">“L’apostoile li otreia, un gonfanon li enveia, un gonfanon et un anel, mult precios e riche e bel; si come it dit, desoz la pierre, aveit un des cheveuls Saint Pierre”[MICHEL 1836: p.147]</span> Charlemagne: An Anglo-Norman Poem of the Twelfth Century edited by Francisque Michel 1836
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==Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla c.1225AD==
(The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway)<br>
