The Souldiers companion, or, Military glory display'd in a true and impartial description of all the memorable battels and fights by land and sea, &c., that have been fought in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, for upwards of six hundred years, deduced from the conquest of England by the Normans, anno 1066, to the last fight in Hungary, anno 1687 : wherein is contained the manner of marshalling armies and fights of divers nations ... : to which is added seasonable advice to young souldiers and officers, &c. : together with the art of gunnery, and preparing artificial fireworks for war or recreation ... / by J.S.

THE Souldiers Companion, &c.

The Relation of the Great and Memorable Battel fought in Battel Field in Sussex, between Harrold King of England and William Duke of Normandy, on Octob. 14. 1066.

KING Harrold having no sooner de∣feated the Army of Norvigians and Danes in the North with exceeding slaughter, (in which, of note fell Harfagar King of Denmark, Tosto his Bro∣ther, and Olave his Son) but News was brought him that the Normans, under the leading of their Duke, were landed in the South; whereupon he made such speed with his Army, that before they could pass through the County of Sussex, he was draw∣ing out of London, and so with the like ce∣lerity marched to give them battel, after having sent back the Messenger who came from the Duke of Normandy to demand pos∣session of the Kingdom, by vertue of a pro∣mise he had made him, when being a pri∣vate man, he was taken Prisoner upon his

Coast; so that both Armies pitching their Tents upon a great Plain, now known by the name of Battel-field, the King sent di∣vers Spies to view the Norman Camp, who being taken and presented to the Duke, he generously feasted them, causing them to be carried from Tent to Tent, and then they were dismissed without any damage or de∣triment. And now Duke William a second time sending to demand the Kingdom, or a single Combat with King Harrold, and both of them being refus'd, as also another proffer, which was to hold the Kingdom as a Feudetary of Normandy; the Armies drew out on the 14th of October 1066 to try the Fortune of a King and Kingdom by more Swords than one, when being set in ar∣ray of Battel, and incouraged on either side with moving Orations, the bloody Blast was sounded, and the Kentish Men, who claimed the Avaunt-guard or From of the Battel as their Right, moved and charged the Enemy in the Front with great fury, the Battalions and Wings of Horse on the other parts doing the like, yet keeping firm in their thick and closed Ranks, so that what with the shot of Ar∣rows and those that came to the Sword and push of Pike, a bloody and doubtful Fight ensued; nor could the Normans with the

continual wheeling of their Horse, and shot of Archers, of which they mostly consisted, dismay or disorder the English Battel, tho•• in their motions they shot a slaunt in the Air, that the Arrows in their fall might disable the inmost Ranks and gaul the Horse; which the Duke perceiving, and finding that unless he could loosen the Bat∣tel it was in vain for him to expect the Vi∣ctory; (nor had he any hope of return, his Fleet being before fired at his command) he ordered the Retreat to be sounded, but ••n such a manner, that the whole Army consisting of 50000 Horse and Foot might suddenly face about and charge at the Sig∣nal appointed to be given; which Strata∣gem answered his Expectation, for the English supposing the Normans fled, sudden∣••y disranked to pursue them, so that their Orders being open, and the Duke rallying 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is Men, broke in with a furious Charge, ••nd made such slaughter that the ground was covered with heaps of the slain, nor ••ould the King though he laboured to cast ••••em into a thick Body restore the Battel; ••ut as he was intent upon it, he received the ••ot of an Arrow which entred his Brain, ••nd of which Wound he fell down dead ••ter which a miserable slaughter ensued, ••ough a party of the English cast them∣selves

into a Ring and manfully resisted; however, being in the end routed on all parts, there fell 97974 by the Sword and shot of Arrows, amongst which were the King and his two Brothers Leosin and Grith, together with the flower of the English No∣bility, and of the Normans not above 9000, and although their Duke escaped, he had three Horses slain under him, yet by this Battel so gained he won a Kingdom, for the Land being thus deprived of her King and Nobles, no farther resistance was made, but all things were left to the dispo∣sal of the Conqueror, who soon after cau∣sed himself to be Crowned King, and is known in our Cronologies by the style o•• King William the First, or William the Con∣queror.

Thus Normans fierce possess'd our fruitful Soile, And stain'd with blood the famous British Isle. Speed de vitae W. C.