Combed and wattled gules, and all the rest of the blazon. He was a man of honor, of noble and generous nature; Though he was rough, he was kindly; she knew how during the winter

He had attended the sick, with a hand as gentle as 5

woman's;

Somewhat hasty and hot, he could not deny it, and head

strong,

Stern as a soldier might be, but hearty, and placable

always,

Not to be laughed at and scorned, because he was little of stature ;

For he was great of heart, magnanimous, courtly, coura

geous;

Any woman in Plymouth, nay, any woman in England, Might be happy and proud to be called the wife of Miles Standish!

But as he warmed and glowed, in his simple and eloquent language,

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Quite forgetful of self, and full of the praise of his rival, 20 Archly the maiden smiled, and, with eyes overrunning

with laughter,

Said, in a tremulous voice, "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?"

It is needless to say that John Alden won the heart and hand of Priscilla after all. The pupils should read the complete poem.

Cordovan leather: leather from Cordova, Spain, a city famous for this leather. Sword of Damascus: three hundred years ago swords most highly esteemed came from Damascus

in Syria, and from Toledo in Spain. The Damascus swords were frequently inscribed with some fitting sentence or motto in the Arabic language. Matchlock: an old-fashioned gun discharged by means of a lighted match. St. Gregory (542– 604): a priest in Rome, afterward Pope. He saw some young English captives in Rome and said of them: "They are not Angles (i.e. English), but angels." Är cä bu ce'rō: a Spanish soldier armed with an old-fashioned gun. Inkhorn: a horn receptacle for ink used by scholars in bygone days. Cai'ús Jū'li ús Caē ṣär (100-44 B.C.): the great Roman general and dictator. How it zer: a small cannon. Ôr'tho dox: sound in doctrine. Săg'à mōre—Sā'chĕm: Indian names for chieftain. Pow wow an Indian priest or conjurer. Ăs'pi nět, Săm'ō șět, Côr bi tǎnt, Squạn'tō, Tõk ä mä hä'món: names of Indian chiefs. Còm'měn tá rieș: Cæsar's own account of the wars in which he took part. Běl lig'e rent: warlike. I bē'ri an: a village in southwestern Europe. Iberia included Spain and Portugal. Cal'ling: choosing. Tăç i tûrn: silent; reserved. Timepiece: clock. Ā ē'ri al cities: homes of the birds high in the trees. Foundering: sinking. Ăs'ta roth-Bā'al: a Phoenician goddess and god. Martin Luther (1483-1546): a famous German reformer. Psalm book of Ainsworth (wûrth): the Puritan hymn book.

The Battle of Hastings

BY ROBERT WACE

This vivid description of the battle of Hastings is condensed from the version of Wace's account given in Creasy's "Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World." Robert Wace (1112 ?-1184 ?) was an Anglo-Norman author, who wrote a chronicle in verse of the dukes of Normandy from the invasion of Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy, to the time of Henry I., King of England.

The battle of Hastings was fought October 14, 1066, between the Saxons under their King Harold and the Normans under Duke William. The duke claimed that Edward the Confessor, the king of England who had preceded Harold and who had died childless, had appointed him heir to the throne of England, and that Harold when on a visit to Normandy had sworn to support his claims. After Edward's death, however, Harold became king. William collected an army and invaded England. By his victory at Hastings Duke William of Normandy became king of England, and Norman institutions and civilization were introduced into Saxon England.

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Let us suffer the old Norman chronicler to transport our imaginations to the fair Sussex scenery northwest of Hastings, as it appeared on the morning of the fourteenth of October, 1066. The Norman host is pouring forth from its tents, and each troop and each company is form- 5 ing fast under the banner of its leader. The masses have been sung, which were finished betimes in the morning; the barons have all assembled round Duke William; and the duke has ordered that the army shall be formed in three divisions, so as to make the attack upon the Saxon 10 position in three places.

The duke stood on a hill where he could best see his men; the barons surrounded him, and he spake to them proudly. He told them how he trusted them, and how all that he gained should be theirs, and how sure he felt 5 of conquest, for in all the world there was not so brave an army, or such good men and true as were then forming around him.

"The men on foot led the way, with serried ranks, bearing their bows. The knights rode next, supporting 10 the archers from behind. Thus both foot and horse kept their course and order of march as they began, in close ranks at a gentle pace that the one might not pass or separate from the other. All went firmly and compactly, bearing themselves gallantly.

15 "Harold had summoned his men, earls, barons, and vavasors, from the castles and the cities, from the ports, the villages and boroughs. The peasants were also called together from the villages, bearing such arms as they found; clubs and great picks, iron forks and stakes. 20 Harold knew that the Normans would come and attack him hand to hand, so he had early inclosed the field in which he had placed his men. He made them arm early and range themselves for the battle, he himself having put on arms and equipments that became such a lord. 25 The duke, as he said, ought to seek him, as he wanted to conquer England; and it became him to abide the attack who had to defend the land. He commanded the people and counseled his barons to keep themselves all together, and defend themselves in a body; for if they once sepa30 rated, they would with difficulty recover themselves. The Normans,' said he, are good vassals, valiant on foot

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and on horseback, good knights are they on horseback, and well used to battle; all is lost if they once penetrate our ranks. They have brought long lances and swords, but you have pointed lances and keen-edged bills; and I do not expect that their arms can stand against yours. 5 Cleave whenever you can; it will be ill done if you spare aught.'

"When Harold had made all ready and given his orders, he came into the midst of the English and dismounted by the side of the standard; Leofwin and Gurth, 10 his brothers, were with him; and around him he had barons enough, as he stood by his standard, which was, in truth, a noble one, sparkling with gold and precious stones. After the victory William sent it to the pope, to prove and commemorate his great conquest and glory. 15 The English stood in close ranks, ready and eager for the fight; and they, moreover, made a fosse which went across the field, guarding one side of their army.

"Meanwhile the Normans appeared advancing over the ridge of a rising ground, and as soon as the two armies 20 were in full view of each other, great noise and tumult arose. You might hear the sound of many trumpets, of bugles, and of horns; and then you might see men ranging themselves in line, lifting their shields, raising their lances, bending their bows, handling their arrows, ready 25 for assault and defense.

"Then Taillefer, who sang right well, mounted on a swift horse, before the duke, singing of Charlemagne and of Roland, of Oliver, and the peers who died in Roncesvalles. And when they drew nigh to the English, A 30 boon, sire!' cried Taillefer. I have long served you and

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