Battle of Hastings AD1066 - Phase 19 - English Rout
The English rout and surrender.
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Anglo Saxon Chronicles
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No reference to this subject in this document.
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Battle Abbey Chronicles
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No reference to this subject in this document.
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Bayeux_Tapestry
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The English flee.
et fuga verterunt angli
(and the English have turned in flight)
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Carmen de Triumpho Normannico
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The defeated English refuse battle they demand pardon
Distrusted to live they yield their backs to death
By tally the duke sends two thousand to the Lower World there
Beside the other countless thousands
It was evening already the axis turned day to shadows
Only night and flight avail the defeated English
Through cover and hiding places in the dense forest
Ever vigilant Hector followed the fleeing fugitives
He led the various skirmishes through the night until daylight
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Florence of Worcester
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No reference to this subject in this document.
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Henry of Huntingdon
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No reference to this subject in this document.
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Master Wace
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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, was dead ; and all saw that there was no longer any hope, so they left the field, and those fled
who could.
I do not tell, and I do not indeed know, for I was
not there to see, and have not heard say, who it was
that smote down king Harold, nor by what weapon
he was wounded ; but this I know, that he was
found among the dead. His great force availed him
nothing ; amidst the slain he was found slain also.
The English who escaped from the field did not
stop till they reached London, for they were in great
fear, and cried out that the Normans followed close
after them. The press was great to cross the
bridge, and the river beneath it was deep ; so that
the bridge broke under the throng, and many fell
into the water.
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William of Jumièges/Orderic Vitalis(Gesta)
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The Normans, finding the English completely routed, pursued them vigorously all
Sunday night, but not without suffering a great loss ; for, galloping onward in hot pursuit, they fell unawares, horses and armour, into an ancient trench, overgrown and concealed by
rank grass, and men in their armour and horses rolling over each other, were crushed and smothered. This accident restored
confidence to the routed English, for, perceiving the advantage given them by the mouldering rampart and a succession of
ditches, they rallied in a body, and, making a sudden stand, caused the Normans severe loss. At this place Eugenulf, lord
of Laigle, and many others fell, the number of the Normans who perished being, as reported by some who were present,
nearly fifteen thousand. Thus did Almighty God, on the eve of the ides [14th] of October, punish in various ways the
innumerable sinners in both armies. For, on this Saturday, the Normans butchered with remorseless cruelty thousands
of the English, who long before had murdered the innocent prince Alfred and his attendants ; and, on the Saturday
before the present battle, had massacred without pity King Harold and Earl Tostig, with multitudes of Norwegians.
The righteous Judge avenged the English on Sunday night, when the furious Normans were precipitated into the concealed
trench ; for they had broken the divine law by their boundless covetous- ness ; and, as the Psalmist says : 'Their feet
were swift to shed blood,' whereupon, ' sorrow and unhappiness was in their ways.'
Duke William, perceiving the English troops suddenly rally, did not halt ; and when he found Count Eustace with
fifty men-at-arms retreating, and the count wished him to have the signal sounded for recalling the pursuers, he
commanded him with a loud voice to stand firm. The count, however, familiarly approaching the duke, whispered in
his ear that it would be safer to retreat, predicting his sudden death if he persisted in the pursuit. While he
was saying this, Eustace received a blow between the shoulders, so violent that the noise of the stroke was plainly
heard, and it caused blood to flow from his mouth and nostrils, and he was borne off by his comrades in a dying state.
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William of Malmesbury
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For with the exception of his stipendiary and mercenary soldiers, he had very few of the people with him ;
on which account, circumvented by a stratagem of William's, he was routed, with the army he headed, after
possessing the kingdom nine months and some days.
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Quedam Exceptiones de Historia Normannorum et Anglorum
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Therefore, the enemy taking flight through the steeps of the mountains and the hollows of the valleys,
an immense massacre of the English was accomplished by the Normans pursuing the fugitives until almost the middle of the night.
The bravest is William, duke of the Normans, and he is now acclaimed king of England by his men.
Eventually, torn from the slaughter of his enemies, he returned to the battlefield at midnight.
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Phases of the Battle of Hastings 1066AD
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No reference to this subject in this document.
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