town. They next attacked Winchelsea ; but being beaten off there, they proceeded to Hastings, which they treated as they had done Rye. After its rebuilding, it was divided into three parishes, St. Clement's, All Saints, and St. Mary in the Castle, as it now remains.
But what renders this place the most celebrated, is the famous
BATTLE OF HASTINGS,
which was fought about seven miles from hence, on the spot where the town of Battle now stands, between William, Duke of Normandy, afterwards surnamed the Conqueror, and Harold, King of England : and as the event of that engagement proved so decisive of the fate of this country, a particular account of it from the best authorities is here inserted.
The Duke having collected an army of 60,000 men at St Valery, (of which 5000 were cavalry) embarked them on board of 900 vessels, and after a passage of sixteen hours, landed at Pevensey, where he -
