allowance, however, ought to be made for the exaggeration of feminine reminiscences of an object which we can scarcely suppose was transferred to the embroidered chronicle of the conquest of England, till after the triumphant termination of William of Normandy's enterprise afforded his queen-duchess so magnificent a subject for the employment of the skill and ingenuity of herself and the ladies of her court, in recording his achievements on canvass, by dint of needlework. But, on the eve of this adventurous expedition, we may naturally conclude that Matilda's time and thoughts were more importantly occupied than in the labours of the loom or the fabrication of worsted pictures; when, in addition to all her fears and anxieties in parting with her lord, we doubt not but she had, at least, as much trouble in reconciling the Norman ladies to the absence of their husbands and lovers,1 as the Duke had to prevail on these his valiant quens to accompany him on an expedition so full of peril to all parties concerned in it. Previous to his departure to join his ships and forces assembled at the port of St. Valleri, William solemnly invested Matilda with the regency of Normandy, and entreated "that he and his companions in arms might have the benefit of her prayers, and the prayers of her ladies, for the success of their expedition." He appointed for her council some of the wisest and most experienced men amongst the prelates and elder nobles of Normandy. The most celebrated of these for courage, ability, and wisdom, was I Wace. Henderson.

2 William of Poitou. Henderson's Life of Will. Con. Wace. Malmsbury.

Roger de Beaumont, son of the renowned Honfroy, and by him William recommended the duchess to be advised in all matters of domestic policy. He also associated their eldest son Robert with the duchess in the regency, and this youth, who had just completed his thirteenth year, was nominally the military chief of Normandy during the absence of his sire.

The invasion of England was by no means a popular measure with any class of William's subjects; and during the time that his armament remained wind bound at St. Valleri, the common soldiers began to murmur in their tents. "The man must be mad," they said, "to persist in going to subjugate a foreign country, since God, who withheld the wind, opposed him. That his father, who was surnamed Robert le Diable, purposed something of the kind, and was in like manner frustrated, and it was the fate of that family to aspire to things beyond them, and to find God their adversary." 1

When the duke heard of these disheartening reports, he called a council of his chiefs, at which it was agreed that the body of St. Valleri should be brought forth to receive the offerings and vows of those who should feel disposed to implore his intercession for a favourable wind.2

Thus artfully did he, instead of interposing the authority of a sovereign and a military leader to punish the language of sedition and mutiny among his troops, oppose superstition to superstition, to amuse the shortsighted instruments of his ambition. The bones of the patron saint of the port were accordingly brought forth Malmsbury. Wace.

1

2 lbid.

with great solemnity, and exposed in their shrine on the green turf beneath the canopy of heaven, for the double purpose of receiving the prayers of the pious and the contributions of the charitable.1

The expedient succeeded beyond the most sanguine expectations of the party by whom it had been suggested. The discontented soldiers and the faint-hearted among the nobles were wonderfully comforted and encouraged by the airing that was bestowed on the holy relics of St. Valleri, and for three days the deceased saint was overwhelmed with prayers and presents. What effect the first had, we do not presume to say; but it is pretty certain that William and the monks of St. Valleri, who doubtless shared the spoils between them, must have made a good thing of the latter, for the Norman chroniclers affirm that the shrine was half buried in the heaps of gold, silver, and precious things which were presented by the crowds of votaries who came to pay their respects to the saint, and no one presumed to approach him empty handed. This, we may suppose, was an unexpected piece of good fortune, since the principal motive of the Duke of Normandy in seeking the intercession of St. Valleri was to amuse his malcontent followers till the wind changed. In the mean time he was agreeably surprised by the arrival of his duchess at the port in a splendid vessel of war, called the Mora, which she had caused to be built unknown to him, and adorned in the most royal style of magnificence, for his acceptance. The effigy of their youngest son, (William,) formed of 1 Malmsbury. Wace.

2 lbid.

4 Wace. Henderson's Life of the Conqueror.

4

3 Ibid.

gilded bronze, some writers say of gold, was placed at the prow of this vessel with his face turned towards England, holding a trumpet to his lips with one hand, and bearing in the other a bow with the arrow aimed at England. It seemed as if the wind had only delayed in order to enable Matilda to offer this gratifying and auspicious gift to her departing lord, for scarcely had the acclamations with which it was greeted by the admiring host died away, when the long-desired breeze sprang up, "and a joyful clamour," says Malmsbury, "then arising, summoned every one to the ships." The duke himself, first launching from the continent into the deep, led the way in the Mora, which by day was distinguished by a blood red flag, and, as soon as it was dark, carried a light at the mast-head as a beacon to guide the other ships. The first night the royal leader so far outsailed his followers, that when morning dawned, the Mora was in the mid-seas alone without a single sail of her convoy in sight, though these were a thousand in number. Somewhat disturbed at this circumstance, William ordered the master of the Mora to go to the topmast and look out, and bring him word what he had

seen.

2

The reply was, "Nothing but sea and sky." "Go up again," said the duke, " and look out." The man cried out, "that he saw four specks in the distance, like the sails of ships."

"Look once again," cried William; then the master exclaimed, "I see a forest of tall masts and a press of sails bearing gallantly towards us."3

I Wace.

2 Thierry's Anglo-Normans.

3 Ibid.

Rough weather occurred during the voyage, but it is remarkable that out of so numerous a fleet only two vessels were lost. In one of these was a noted astrologer who had taken upon himself to predict that the expedition would be entirely successful, for that Harold would resign England to the duke without a battle. William, who neither believed in omens nor encouraged fortunetelling, when he heard the catastrophe of the unfortunate soothsayer who had thought proper to join himself to the armament, shrewdly observed, "Little could he have known of the fate of others who could not foresee his own."1

"The duke," says Wace, "had in his ships store of archers, and many brave men of all degrees, with carpenters, engineers, smiths, and other skilful craftsmen;" having, like an able chief, provided all things requisite for battle and siege. He was, moreover, furnished with three auxiliaries, which were regarded by the people of the land with far greater feelings of dismay than all the living elements of the war which he had conducted to their shores. There were the consecrated banner which had been sent to him by the pope, with a golden agnus dei, and one of St. Peter's hairs. Powerful weapons were these in that dark age of ignorance and superstition; and doubtless Harold found more difficulty in persuading his followers to fight against the papal banner and the apostolical hair, than to oppose the veteran spears of Normandy and Flanders.

On the 28th of September, 1066, the Norman fleet made the port of Pevensey, on the coast of Sussex.

1 Wace. Henderson.