DEFEAT.
"What though the field be lost?
All is not lost."
_Paradise Lost._
Oswald the Saxon, and Beowulf the Saxon Dane, passed out into the night,
and continued their course beyond the gates of the city, which were so
broken down that they served no longer the purpose for which they were
erected. The walls also for considerable distances were thrown down, and
in a state of disrepair. The insurrectionary forces had determined to
push forward in the king's absence, but in the meantime they were
halting, waiting for Malcolm of Scotland, and for further counsel. They
were encamped some miles away on the banks of the river running between
York and the head of the estuary of the Humber, where the Danish
war-vessels were anchored. The Danes held the head of the estuary,
throwing out their forces Yorkward, but encamped sufficiently near to
cover their vessels, in the event of an attack upon them. Waltheof, the
leader and commander-in-chief of the Saxon forces, occupied a central
position, having under his command the bulk of the rebels; whilst
Oswald, Beowulf, and others, occupied the right wing, which to a certain
extent covered the city. On the news of William's landing, the bridges
were thrown down, but in many places the river was fordable, during dry
weather, both for man and horse. But to effect this in the face of
sturdy enemies was a most formidable task, and the Saxons were
sufficiently numerous to guard the river effectually wherever it was
fordable.
Early in the morning, after the breaking up of the council of war, the
scouts brought in the intelligence that William had arrived within six
miles, and ere nightfall the pennants of the Normans were flying within
sight of the Saxon forces.
Very little of that night was spent by Oswald in rest. Twice he
patrolled the whole length of the river under his command, visiting and
cheering every outpost. But judge how great was his consternation, and
that of his forces also, when, with the dawning of the morning, the
fraction of the Saxons commanded by him were made painfully aware of the
fact that the Normans had passed the river, unopposed, in the night; and
worse than that, there began to be ominous rumours that this had arisen
through the treachery of Waltheof--that he, having been bribed by the
Conqueror, had left the remnant to their fate. In these straits time was
precious, for the Normans were advancing up the river, doubling up the
Saxon outposts, and throwing them back on the main body. Hastily a
council of war was called, and not a few, in face of the danger and the
hopelessness of their cause in the midst of such treachery, were for
dispersing without a blow; but Oswald, addressing them, said,--
"I fear it is too true that there is treachery in our ranks; but as yet
we know not its extent. If Waltheof has succumbed to William's bribes,
there are still the Danes, who will be able to harass the rear of our
enemy. Hourly, also, we are expecting Malcolm of Scotland and the
Atheling, so that we need not despair. Let us make a bold stand; the
battle is by no means lost if the Danes stand firm. Now, with our
handful of men it is utterly impossible to meet the Normans in the open
country; for they will double our left flank easily and surround us. But
on the fringe of yonder dense wood, with our line extended under cover
of the thicket, and where the enemy's horse will be absolutely
useless--where also our men will be quite in their element and be able
to ply their long bows with deadly effect, and their spears or swords at
close quarters--we shall surely avoid, in any case, the wholesale
slaughter of our men; and we shall administer a severe check to
William's march."
The force of this sage advice was seen at once by the leaders, and the
forces accordingly retired to the wood in their rear, and took up their
fighting attitude just within its shelter. The Saxons, who were brave
individually, were still undisciplined and incapable of acting together
with precision in the open; but they were wonderfully heartened by this
movement, which gave them shelter from the onslaughts of the enemy's
horse--a mode of warfare which has at all times had a demoralising
effect upon untrained soldiers. So, having their right flank resting on
the river, and in consequence shielded from any flank movement there,
they threw out their left considerably, so as to prevent, if possible,
any over-lapping by the Normans. They were the better able to do this,
seeing that the enemy's horse were totally unable to charge through
their attenuated lines; the jungle being an effectual barrier to this.
Oswald arranged his men in two fighting lines. The foremost ranks, with
spear and sword, were to resist the advance of the Normans. The second
were bowmen, who were to cover the front ranks by letting fly their
arrows in the faces of the foe; a most ingenious and effective
expedient. To Beowulf he entrusted the command of the left wing, with
instructions to in no case permit the Normans to outflank them, but, if
necessary, to double in the left flank also, until it rested on the
river.
Scarcely had Oswald time to make this careful disposition of his men ere
the vanguard of the Normans were upon them. But a shower of arrows from
the Saxons at close quarters thoroughly disconcerted them. So fiercely
were they met, and by a force whose numbers they had no means of
gauging, that they deemed it prudent to retire beyond bowshot until the
remainder of the forces advanced to their support. Then came a more
determined assault on the Saxons' position. But, from behind trees and
shrubs, the concealed defenders drave their short spears through each
assailant, or clave them with their short Saxon swords or battle-axes.
Oswald and others, who were clad in armour, boldly fronted them in every
gap, making great havoc in the ranks of the men-at-arms, or singling out
the Norman leaders and engaging them.
In the midst of the fray, one noteworthy incident occurred. Oswald, to
his amazement, saw the burly Norman, Vigneau, who had come with
professions of help, now fighting fiercely against them. Immediately his
blood was fired, and pressing steadily towards him, eventually they met
face to face.
"Ah, treacherous villain!" said Oswald. "This is your friendship for our
cause, is it? I have a particular message for tricksters and sneaking
traitors like you."
"Come on, varlet of a Saxon, and don't stand prating like some gowky
wench, and I'll quickly give thee thy quietus," said Vigneau savagely.
Instantly there ensued a most desperate encounter between these two
powerful combatants. Each of them, however, wore a suit of armour, and
carried a shield, and each one was most skilful in the use of his
weapons, so that, desperate and determined as they both were, no
conclusive blow resulted. But whilst the duel progressed, the general
body of the Normans made steady progress, in spite of the valour of the
Saxons, and speedily Oswald was quite surrounded, though totally
oblivious of the fact. One stalwart Saxon, however, who had fought by
Oswald's side--by name Wulfhere--saw the imminent danger in which his
leader was placed, and he rushed to his rescue, quickly cleaving his way
through; and seizing Oswald, he exclaimed,--
"Master, you will be cut off if you don't keep in fighting line with
us!"
This fierce reminder awoke Oswald to the peril of his position, and he
said to his antagonist, "Another time, villain, will come, when I hope
we may effectually finish this quarrel."
"Sooner and better, churl; but for the present your better plan is to
run away," retorted Vigneau.
In the meantime, although the Saxons had extended their lines to the
utmost limits which the sparsity of their men would permit, the Normans
surged round and completely overlapped them. So Beowulf was compelled to
initiate the movement ordered by Oswald, and the left wing was gradually
doubled back until it also converged on the river; and thus the line of
battle was in the form of a semicircle. The Saxons fought with
desperation, disputing every inch of the ground, and strewing the
ground, yard by yard, with the Norman slain. The masterly skill with
which their ground had been chosen and their defence planned, gave them
great advantage, and enabled them to maintain the unequal contest for
nearly an hour. But ultimately the quivers of the archers were emptied
of every shaft, and the battle could no longer be maintained with
advantage, but would probably end in complete massacre. So Oswald
selected a spot where the river was fordable; then, he and a hundred
stalwart Saxons stood shoulder to shoulder, keeping the enemy at bay
whilst the rank and file crossed the stream. Then, gradually narrowing
their own circle until every one had taken the river, the last
half-dozen, with their faces to the foe, fought their way across.
When they had reached the opposite side, the order was given for
dispersal, and the gallant band melted away, and severally, or in bands,
sought their distant homes. Thus ended in total failure, through
cowardice and treachery, what at one time seemed, in its very marked
success, a conspiracy that would ultimately wrest the kingdom from the
usurper.