Page:The Hastings Guide.pdf/47

of heavy-armed foot, who, being closely co pacted together, formed the Roman sconce - " that is, the soldiers in the first and last ranks covered their bodies with their bucklers, while those in the middle covered their heads with their's - a disposition that rendered them almost impenetrable, and secured them against the arrows and flings. The royal standard of England was fixed on the spot where Battle Abbey now stands ; and near it the King, dismounting from his horse, placed himself with his two valiant brothers, Gurth and Leofwin, at the head of his infantry, and expressed his resolution to conquer or to perish in the action. Towards the enemy, the descent of the ground was steep ; but the top was level, and wide enough to contain all his men in the close and compact order in which he put them. Behind the phalanx were woods, through which they had marched to that post, and which defended their rear. They were all armed with Danish battle-axes, and had also javelins or darts; but they did not make use in this fight either of long or cross bows, both which weapons were employed with great skill by the Normans.