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Quedam Exceptiones de Historia Normannorum et Anglorum, this text for the Battle of Hastings 1066
was believed to have been written about 1101AD by a monk from Battle Abbey.
Click HERE
for the full text.
This text was translated by Kathleen Tyson who has also translated the
Carmen de Triumpho_Normannico.
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Everything having been prepared, he set forth for England together with his fleet, propelled by a steadily blowing following wind,
and landed at Peneuesel, where at once he restored the most strongly entrenched fortification and, entrusting it to his soldiers,
he went to Hastings and there established another fortification.
It happened at this time Harold was with his brother Tostig and Harald, nicknamed Hardrata, king of the Norwegians, above the
Humber River; they were ambushed near the river; (Harold) killed all persons fighting with his brother.
And while he was returning from this slaughter he met a messenger on the way who revealed the fleet of the Normans had landed at Hastingas. And when he had heard, just as he was, still drenched in his brother’s blood, so under the same arms with a countless multitude of English and Danes he was impatient to meet up with the army of the Normans.
Hastening to take them by surprise, riding through the night, he appeared impatient at the battlefield at dawn.
The others pressed ahead nonetheless (so) battle was waged on both sides as if Harold had survived.
And so the battle was prolonged until in the night William, by the aid of God, was made the victor.
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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