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Travel News
THERE are likely to be severe delays on all roads in the southeast, for the next three months, as Duke William continues his invasion of England. The official advice is to postpone your travel arrangements unless it is absolutely necessary as all travel is likely to prove dangerous to your well-being.
Hastings.
The news from Duke William’s advisers is that he expected the homage of the English Witan but this submission has not arrived, and that piques – one in the Norman eye for William.
William of Poitiers, his chronicler, was heard to say “When he found that they would not come to him, he decided to use all the force that was left in Hastings and that which would come to him from over sea, to ravage all the country that he overran.”
First Division The Main Army
The First Division will form the main Norman Army and march first north to Senlac Hill and then will follow the ancient trackways and Roman roads east towards Dover before moving on to Canterbury.
It is a circuitous route as it must avoid the Appledore Estuary, that great inland sea that stretches almost all the way to Tenterden. The objective is to secure Dover and start the building of a Castle before moving off towards Canterbury.
I have it on good authority that it is the Duke’s intention to negotiate the surrender of Canterbury, safeguarding the Cathedral where he intends to pray for redemption and the blessing of the remainder of the campaign.
Second Division
The Second Division will leave Hastings and march west to the great harbour at Portchester, at the head of Fareham Creek. Their orders are to seize the Royal Mints at Steyning, Arundel
and Chichester, survey and list sites for fortification that will secure Duke William’s control of Wessex that was once the stronghold of Harold Godwinson.
Barons such as William de Warenne also see it as an opportunity for personal gain, identifying lands that that they will petition the Duke for once he becomes King. With the prospect of rich pickings further west they begin to look and strut like Norman invaders and are eager to leave the confines of Hastings.
Once at Fareham Creek, they are to rendezvous with reinforcements sailing from France and Normandy. After a period of assimilation, the enlarged Division is to move north towards Winchester, making camp at Alresford and wait for further instruction from the Duke William himself.
It is stressed very forcibly, that they must not make any move on Winchester itself.
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Norman Lies
God came in peace and Bishop Odo’s reliance on the Pope’s Blessing is hypocritical at the very least.
It is really all to do with power, the power of the Church and the power of Duke William. Both see the opportunity for riches and wealth. I’ve already heard the nobles carving up lands for themselves and looting and murder are all part of their game. No doubt they hope to buy their forgiveness, in the eyes of the Lord, by making large donations to the Church.
There is no such thing as Norman goodwill.
All Are Dead
After the terrible events of the Battle of Senlac Hill, when the ‘flower of English nobility and youth lay dead’, the Norman Army spent yesterday scouring the battle field.
If any Saxon was still alive it was a miracle, but they would not be long for this world. The murderous Normans made sure that no Saxon should ‘suffer’ a lingering death.
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Exclusive Eye Witness Reports
The Battle
They were like dogs after a hare- – Once they got the scent.
There was no stopping them.
Down the hill they ran, Faster And faster.
They thought that they had won. They thought that they were proper soldiers
But they just didn’t listen.
We could see what would happen From the top of the hill.
We knew what would happen At the bottom.
They gave William the upper hand As we fell back to defend the King.
Runners told us the Second Army was close But the King was hit, his brothers too
And the word was given. Fall Back, Fall Back, To the Andreasweald, To the Malfosse.
The Malfosse
It’s late. It’s dusk. The Second Army’s here. At last.
We join the line they’ve formed At Malfosse, at Malfosse we whisper.
It’s darker now And on the Normans come
The sound of horses and cries in French, Louder, Louder. Closer, Closer
They are the dogs now after the hare, They have the scent of blood.
We are stronger now and we stand defiant. We urge the Normans on For we can win here
For we can win, or we have Malfosse!
And win we did. In the name of Harold and Saxon England.
Horses and Normans piled high in the ditch. The ditch that was Malfosse.
And then we disappeared, Into the night, Into the Andreasweald.
Remember Malfosse, A victory, but a hollow one,
For we have lost our King. For we have lost our country
May God Speed And Save Us All From Norman Rule.
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Battle Orders
William’s orders for his forces suggest that he has planned to open the battle with volleys of arrows from his archers in the front rank to weaken the Saxon army.
The infantry will then engage in close combat to create openings in the Saxon lines which could be exploited by a cavalry charge.
The Saxon lines would be broken and the cavalry would be free to pursue the fleeing soldiers.
It was a tried a tested plan that had worked in France.
It will exploit the lack of English archers and cavalry, but at Senlac they will be fighting up hill and if the English line holds firm on the ridge the outcome cannot not be forecast.
Any doubt in Norman minds are assuaged by exhortations from Duke William and Bishop Odo that God and Right are on their side and that Norman discipline will prevail.
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The Army began to arrive at the campsite from early this morning.
The vanguard crossed the Appledore Estuary at Sedlescombe and are in good shape. The bulk of the army came by Vine Hall, following the old trackways. It took longer but it avoided the estuary.
It is the English custom to pass the night, drinking and singing, and without sleep. They say that it takes the mind of the fyrdmen away from thoughts of the morrow.
Axes are being sharpened, leather bottles filled.
There is much talk of past campaigns and victories to motivate and energise the forces, especially those who are inexperienced.
Many went up to the ridge at Senlac. Across the valley was the Norman camp. It did not seem as big as our camp and gave many of the troops a lift, especially those first-timers.
The Norman camp seemed quiet and on the breeze, could be heard chanting, chanting like you would hear in church.
There were a few laughs amongst the Anglo-Saxon ranks “if they’re confessing their sins already they must think that they’re going to die.
Tomorrow, we’ll help them on their way” said one wag which raised more laughter.
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Normans Are Ready
William, Duke of Normandy and his Council of War are delighted by the intelligence received from their spies.
There is a belief that in Harold’s haste, some of the army may have been left behind to recover from the long march from York and will follow on later.
By contrast, William’s army seem well rested in their long established safe haven, at Hastings, and are ready for a fight. They had been dreading a long, drawn-out campaign and believe a swift engagement will be to their advantage.
The Norman army is getting ready to move from the security of Hastings and Hastings Castle to a new camp on Telham Hill, seven miles to the north.
My informants tell me of Duke William’s intention to meet Harold’s army close to the crossroads at Senlac Hill.
Sources close to the Duke admit that these strategic crossroads hold the key to the invasion.
Win here and William could be crowned King by Christmas.
Comment
I fear for England and our Saxon Rights and our Rule of Law. We must not submit to Norman dictatorship.
It will not be benevolent. We will be forced from our lands. Our lives will be controlled by fear and uncertainty. Taxation will destroy our way of life.
French will become our language. It is not the future that we want for our sons
Trust me.
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There are rumours abounding, spread by those who know the area well, that Senlac is key.
As Earl of Wessex, Harold is aware that the ground around Senlac is hilly and far from ideal for the cavalry that reports suggest make up much of the Norman forces.
If Harold can hold the Senlac ridge, the Norman forces will be bottled up in Hastings for the winter. With William finding it difficult to feed his army in the bad weather and prone to disease, the invasion will be finished before it has really started.
It will all be over by Christmas
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