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great spirits； they had changed their creed； their language； their habits； and
had bee； from heathen and murderous Berserkers； the most truly
civilised people of Europe； andas was most natural thenthe most
faithful allies and servants of the Pope of Rome。 So greatly had they
changed； and so fast； that William Duke of Normandy； the great… great…
grandson of Rolf the wild Viking； was perhaps the finest gentleman； as
well as the most cultivated sovereign； and the greatest statesman and
warrior in all Europe。
So Harold of Norway came with all his Vikings to Stamford Bridge by
York； and took； by ing； only that which Harold of England promised
him； namely； 〃forasmuch as he was taller than any other man； seven feet
of English ground。〃
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The story of that great battle； told with a few inaccuracies； but told as
only great poets tell； you should read； if you have not read it already； in the
〃Heimskringla〃 of Snorri Sturluson； the Homer of the North：
High feast that day held the birds of the air and the beasts of the field；
White…tailed erne and sallow glede； Dusky raven； with horny neb； And the
gray deer the wolf of the wood。
The bones of the slain； men say； whitened the place for fifty years to
e。
And remember； that on the same day on which that fight befell
September 27； 1066William； Duke of Normandy； with all his French…
speaking Norsemen； was sailing across the British Channel； under the
protection of a banner consecrated by the Pope； to conquer that England
which the Norse…speaking Normans could not conquer。
And now King Harold showed himself a man。 He turned at once
from the North of England to the South。 He raised the folk of the
Southern； as he had raised those of the Central and Northern shires； and in
sixteen daysafter a march which in those times was a prodigious feathe
was entrenched upon the fatal down which men called Heathfield then；
and Senlac； but Battle to this daywith William and his French Normans
opposite him on Telham hill。
Then came the battle of Hastings。 You all know what befell upon that
day； and how the old weapon was matched against the newthe English
axe against the Norman lanceand beaten only because the English broke
their ranks。 If you wish to refresh your memories； read the tale once
more in Mr。 Freeman's 〃History of England；〃 or Professor Creasy's 〃
Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World；〃 or even； best of all； the late Lord
Lytton's splendid romance of 〃Harold。〃 And when you go to England； go；
as some of you may have gone already； to Battle； and there from off the
Abbey grounds； or from Mountjoye behind； look down off what was then
〃The Heathy Field；〃 over the long slopes of green pasture and the rich
hop… gardens； where were no hop…gardens then； and the flat tide…marshes
winding between the wooded heights； towards the southern sea； and
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imagine for yourselves the feelings of an Englishman as he contemplates
that broad green sloping lawn； on which was decided the destiny of his
native land。 Here； right beneath； rode Taillefer up the slope before them
all； singing the song of Roland； tossing his lance in air and catching it as it
fell； with all the Norse berserker spirit of his ancestors flashing out in him；
at the thought of one fair fight； and then purgatory； or Valhalla Taillefer
perhaps preferred the latter。 Yonder on the left； in that copse where the
red…ochre gully runs； is Sanguelac； the drain of blood； into which （as the
Bayeux tapestry； woven by Matilda's maids； still shows） the Norman
knights fell； horse and man； till the gully was bridged with writhing bodies
for those who rode after。 Here； where you standthe crest of the hill
marks where it must have beenwas the stockade on which depended the
fate of England。 Yonder； perhaps； stalked out one English squire or house…
carle after another： tall men with long…handled battle…axesone
specially terrible； with a wooden helmet which no sword could pierce
who hewed and hewed down knight on knight； till they themselves were
borne to earth at last。 And here； among the trees and ruins of the garden；
kept trim by those who know the treasure which they own； stood Harold's
two standards of the fighting…man and the dragon of Wessex。 And here；
close by （for here； for many a century； stood the high altar of Battle Abbey；
where monks sang masses for Harold's soul）； upon this very spot the
Swan…neck found her hero…lover's corpse。 〃Ah；〃 says many an
Englishmanand who will blame him for it〃how grand to have died
beneath that standard on that day！〃 Yes； and how right。 And yet how
right； likewise； that the Norman's cry of DEXAIE！〃God Help！〃and not
the English hurrah； should have won that day； till William rode up
Mountjoye in the afternoon to see the English army； terrible even in defeat；
struggling through copse and marsh away toward Brede； and； like
retreating lions driven into their native woods； slaying more in the pursuit
than they slew even in the fight。
But so it was to be； for so it ought to have been。 You； my American
friends； delight； as I have said already； in seeing the old places of the old
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country。 Go； I beg you； and look at that old place； and if you be wise；
you will carry back from it one lesson： That God's thoughts are not as
our thoughts； nor His ways as our ways。
It was a fearful time which followed。 I cannot but believe that our
forefathers had been； in some way or other； great sinners； or two such
conquests as Canute's and William's would not have fallen on them within
the short space of sixty years。 They did not want for courage； as
Stamford Brigg and Hastings showed full well。 English swine； their