I
On the death of Edward the Confessor the throne of England was claimed
by William, Duke of Normandy.
When Edward took refuge in Normandy after the Danes conquered England,
he stayed at the palace of William. He was very kindly treated
there, and William said that Edward had promised in gratitude that
William should succeed him as king of England.
One day in the year 1066 when William was hunting with a party of
his courtiers in the woods near Rouen, a noble came riding rapidly
toward him shouting, "Your Highness, a messenger has just arrived
from England, bearing the news that King Edward is dead and that
Harold, the son of Earl Godwin, has been placed on the English
throne."
William at once called his nobles together and said to them, "I
must have your consent that I enforce my claim to England's throne
by arms."
[Illustration: HAROLD RECEIVING NEWS OF THE NORMAN INVASION]
The barons gave their consent. So an army of sixty thousand men
was collected and a large fleet of ships was built to carry this
force across the channel.
During the months of preparation William sent an embassy to the
English court to demand of Harold that he give up the throne. Harold
refused.
Soon all England was startled by the news that William had landed
on the English coast at the port of Hastings with a large force.
Harold immediately marched as quickly as possible from the north
to the southern coast. In a week or so he arrived at a place called
Senlac nine miles from Hastings, in the neighborhood of which town
the Norman army was encamped. He took his position on a low range
of hills and awaited the attack of William. His men were tired
with their march, but he encouraged them and bade them prepare for
battle.
On the morning of October 14, 1066, the two armies met. The Norman
foot-soldiers opened the battle by charging on the English stockades.
They ran over the plain to the low hills, singing a war-song at
the top of their voices; but they could not carry the stockades
although they tried again and again. They therefore attacked another
part of the English forces.
William, clad in complete armor, was in the very front of the fight,
urging on his troops. At one time a cry arose in his army that he
was slain and a panic began. William drew off his helmet and rode
along the lines, shouting, "I live! I live! Fight on! We shall
conquer yet!"
The battle raged from morning till night. Harold himself fought
on foot at the head of his army and behaved most valiantly. His
men, tired as they were from their forced march, bravely struggled
on hour after hour.
But at last William turned their lines and threw them into confusion.
As the sun went down Harold was killed and his men gave up the
fight.
From Hastings William marched toward London. On the way he received
the surrender of some towns and burned others that would not surrender.
London submitted and some of the nobles and citizens came forth
and offered the English crown to the Norman duke.
On the 25th of December, 1066, the "Conqueror," as he is always
called, was crowned in Westminster Abbey by Archbishop Ealdred.
Both English and Norman people were present. When the question was
asked by the Archbishop, "Will you have William, Duke of Normandy,
for your king?" all present answered, "We will."