The duke tried the same stratagem a second time, and with similar success ; but even after this double advantage, he still found a great body of the English, who, maintaining themselves in firm array, seemed determined to dispute the victory to the last extremity. He ordered his heavy-armed infantry to make an assault upon them ; while his archers, placed behind, should gall the enemy, who were exposed by the situation of the ground, and who were intent in defending themselves against the swords and spears of the assailants. By this disposition he at last prevailed. Harold was slain by an arrow, which, piercing his eye, entered into his brain, while he was in the act of encouraging his men to increased exertions : his two brothers shared the same fate ; and the English, discouraged by the fall of those princes, gave ground on all sides, and were pursued with great slaughter by the victorious Normans . A few troops of the vanquished, however, had still the courage to turn upon their pursuers ; and attacking them in deep and miry ground, obtained some revenge for the slaughter and dishonour of the day; but the appearance of the duke obliged them to seek their safety by flight, and darkness saved them from any further pursuit by the enemy.
Thus was gained by William, Duke of Normandy, the great and decisive victory of Hastings, after a battle which was fought from seven in the morning till sunset, and which seemed worthy, by the heroic valour displayed by both armies and by both commanders, to decide the fate of a mighty kingdom.
William had three horses killed under him ; and there fell nearly fifteen thousand men on the side of the Normans ; the loss was still more considerable on that of the vanquished, besides the death of the king and his two brothers. The dead body of Harold was brought to William, and was generously restored, -
