Bayeux

I, Turold the Dwarf, once page of Guy of Ponthieu.
Was among the veterans of the battle of Hastings.
I embroidered the tapestry that preserves the story of our age
For Bishop Odo, who wrote the plot and set the stage.

In the sixty fourth year, First Millennium, Anno Dominum
Edward reigned in Winchester, seat of England's kingdom.
To his east in Kent, his vassal, Duke Harold held sway.
And the destiny of Harold I will ponder today.

Across the sea in Normandy, William reigned in Bayeux,
In Ponthieu, north of Normandy, Count Guy reigned in Beurain.
In Brittany, south of Normandy, Conan reigned in Dol and Dinan.
Count Guy served William willingly, but that was not the case for Conan.

Harold, Duke of Kent, greeted King Edward at Winchester:

'My liege lord Edward, you've bid me come.
And so I am here with all of my men.
My offenses, dear Father, please forgive them.
How may we serve you, our faithful sovereign?'

The elderly Edward answered with gentle tone:
'As you know, Harold, I sit without sons upon the throne.
I am sending you to France to meet my choice heir,
Bring greetings to Duke William of Normandy
And return with any news and vats of spirit.

I know, my dear Harold, that you are fond of sport,
And so I send you to hunt, and return with good report.
First to the church at Bosham go and pray for God's Speed,
May He mercifully supply you with all that you need.

As Jacob went to meet his cousins at his mother's request,
You are meeting our kinsmen at my behest.
As Jacob, on his way from Canaan to Haran,
Once prayed at Beth El, for blessings from heaven,
So too, may you tarry at Bosham, and gain virtue.'

And so Harold rode to the church at Bosham,
To prepare for his journey, along with his men,
With his hounds and his hawk, and his entourage,
But first food and drink, to sustain the voyage.

At Bosham he prayed:
'I am kneeling at the foot of the cross of salvation.
Dear Lord, if you keep me and my men in your service,
Then we shall return and bolster Your Kingdom
As Your willing and chivalrous servants.'

Harold sailed in long boats, as the Vikings once did,
With shields and oars and his sails full of wind,
But his greeting at the hand of Count Guy of Ponthieu
Knocked the wind from his sails and his sailors, too.

Count Guy and his forces, so militantly apparelled,
Met his boats at the shore, and apprehended Harold.
They conducted him to Beaurain where he was held.
Until the nature of his mission to Duke William was told.

It was I, Turold, who travelled south to Bayeux then,
And returned to Beaurain with Duke William's men.
We took Harold and his men to Bayeux, to William,
So that they might accomplish their supposed mission.

At the palace of William, Harold was royally entertained
With food and drink and song, while he was detained.
He was told the story of Aelfgyva and the travelling cleric.
Which is an earthy spice, not quite a holy relic.

Then Duke William arose and travelled south to Brittany,
Along with the combined forces of Count Guy and Harold.
They prepared to mount an attack on the reticent Conan,
First gathering their forces at Mount Saint Michael.

From there they attempted to traverse the Couesnon River's strand,
Where Harold valiantly rescued several men from quicksand.
They came to Dol, to find that Conan had fled.
Finally at Rennes, the armies met and fought and bled.

Duke William's men, and those of Guy and Harold,
Fought boldly against the men of Dinan,
Until the keys of the fortress
Were surrendered by Conan.

For his gallant service Harold was rewarded
With a coat of armor by William.
And on their return to Bayeux,
Harold gave to William his oath of allegiance.

Then Harold put his long boats to the surf,
And returned to England's shore.
And so Harold returned successfully
From all his adventures in Normandy.

But his happy expedition was punctuated
By the death of his sovereign, King Edward.
His happy news found no audience
But instead Harold found perplexity.

Before the body of King Edward was carried
To the Church of Saint Peter the Apostle,
King Edward on his deathbed spoke to his faithful attendants,
And intimated that Harold could be the one to succeed.

Harold consulted Archbishop Stigand who gave him the news,
Seeking some guidance in the best course to pursue.
'Should I now obey my King, and take up his crown,
Or should I pass and allow William to ascend the throne?'

Stigand advised him, asking him this question:
'Can you take the throne of England, and yet honor your oath to William?'
Stigand intended for him to find a way,
But Harold mistook this advice, and answered with a wink:
'Oh yes, when I am crowned King of England, that Norman shall get his due.'

When a man answers with a wink,
His sly heart speaks the opposite of his words.
And so Proverbs warns us: 'He who winks his eye causes sorrow,
And those of vain lips shall find difficulty.'

And so Harold was crowned that Spring by Stigand the Archbishop.
Around that time, in the sixty-sixth year, First Millennium, Anno Dominum,
The astrologers noticed a strange tailed star,
A comet that appeared and returned to mysterious dark.

The meaning of this omen, was not immediately obvious.
That it was a sign of changing times was apparent.
Harold took it to mean that heaven smiled on his reign.
But later it was understood to be a harbinger of his fate.

When the next ship sailed from England to France,
News was brought to William of Harold's change of fortune.
His intention to keep sovereign over England in England,
On that side of the sea.

William consulted with brother, Bishop Odo:
'Comfort me, brother Odo. I have been slighted twice:
Once for a crown stolen from me;
And once for a broken oath.'

Bishop Odo gave him this advice:
'Feudal alliances maintain peace in the world,
It is the tree of the Kingdom of God, and should not be hacked down.
It is your duty to right this grievous wrong,
And so restore peace and order, as justice should be done.

Harold must be punished, for breaking his sacred oath,
And for taking much upon himself, to be your rival.
As Scripture warns: 'Before destruction there is pride,
And before failure there is an arrogant spirit.'

So Duke William ordered large ships be built
To carry his horses and army to England.
They worked through the summer's heat
To provide him with a sizeable navy.

Then the ships were hauled overland to the sea
And they were loaded with armor and shields.
Wagon loads of wine and arms
Were necessary provisions.

William boarded the largest ship and led the fleet
Which travelled west across the sea
And landed at Pevensey in Kent, a distance west of Hastings,
Where the horses and men disembarked, and prepared a camp.

A large crew headed by Wadard was sent to find provisions.
They plundered the countryside, and returned with plenty of victuals.
Sheep and chicken were slaughtered, skewered and cooked,
And a sumptuous meal was served to bolster the men before the battle.

Bishop Odo blessed the food and drink, saying
'Blessed are you, Lord, King of the Universe,
Whose abundance has never failed us.
You have blessed this land and put it in our hands,
We thank you for your goodness.'

William sat and feasted along with his brothers,
Bishop Odo at his right hand and Robert at his left.
Robert then directed the construction
Of housing and fortification at Hastings.

Scouts were sent out to find Harold and his army.
They burned the houses of those who were his vassals.
Finally William's troops were ready.
They rode away from their fort at Hastings, ready to do battle.

Duke William met a man named Vital, whom he interrogated.
Vital returned to Harold, and warned him of William's approach.
When the two armies finally were within sight,
Duke William exhorted his soldiers with this speech:

'Today is a great day for us, with great opportunity.
For us to repair the wrong, and restore Divine Unity.
So then, men, be virile, be strong, take heart,
And let us deal wisely with this enemy, who would do us harm.'

And with a charge, the battle began.
Harold's brothers, brave Leofwine and Gyrth,
Were at the lead of the English forces,
And were amongst the first to fall.

Many men on horseback and on foot,
Armed with spears and bows and arrows,
Wearing mail and helmets,
Engaged in mortal battle.

There was no decisive advantage,
As men fell on both sides.
The English and the French,
Both fell in gory battle.

Bishop Odo rode among the French,
Raising his staff to comfort the young,
Eustatius held a banner to rally around,
And William raised his helmet, to show he survived.

The French fought and killed those who defended Harold.
A fateful arrow found it's mark in Harold's eye.
His knee was hacked and he fell from his horse,
And amongst many others, expired.

The remnants of Harold's army turned and fled,
When they realized that their sovereign was dead.
Duke William was recognized and congratulated as the victor
While lesser men searched for souvenirs among the horror.

From that time on William was known
as William the Conqueror, amongst the French.
But amongst the English he was known
As William the Illegitimate, on account of his birth.

The coronation of William was a royal affair,
And hope for a united kingdom ran high.
But rancor between the English and French
Lasted many and many a year, giving that hope the lie.

The tapestry recounting this story was torn,
So that William should not appear as King.
It was returned to Bayeux, and stored there,
So that this story might be saved.

Some day the alliance may be restored,
Perhaps in the Third Millennium.
May peace and prosperity then abound
Throughout the United Kingdom.