Snorro Sturleson.

[249] Snorro Sturleson.

[250] The quick succession of events allowed the Saxon army no time to
bury the slain; and the bones of the invaders whitened the field of
battle for many years afterwards.

[251] It may be said indeed, that, in the following reign, the Danes
under Osbiorn (brother of King Sweyn), sailed up the Humber; but it was
to assist the English, not to invade them. They were bought off by the
Normans,--not conquered.

[252] The Saxons sat at meals with their heads covered.

[253] Henry.

[254] Palgrave--"Hist. of Anglo-Saxons."

[255] Palgrave--"Hist. of Anglo-Saxons."

[256] The battle-field of Hastings seems to have been called Senlac,
before the Conquest, Sanguelac after it.

[257] Traitor-messenger.

[258] "Ne meinent od els chevalier,
Varlet a pie De eskuier;
Ne nul d'els n'a armes portee,
Forz sol escu, lance, et espee."
Roman de Rou, Second Part, v. 12, 126.

[259] "Ke d'une angarde [eminence] u ils 'estuient
Cels de l'ost virent, ki pres furent."
Roman de Rou, Second Part, v. 12, 126.

[260] Midnight.

[261] This counsel the Norman chronicler ascribes to Gurth, but it is so
at variance with the character of that hero, that it is here assigned to
the unscrupulous intellect of Haco.

[262] Osborne--(Asbiorn),--one of the most common of Danish and
Norwegian names. Tonstain, Toustain, or Tostain, the same as Tosti, or
Tostig,--Danish. (Harold's brother is called Tostain or Toustain, in the
Norman chronicles). Brand, a name common to Dane or Norwegian--Bulmer is
a Norwegian name, and so is Bulver or Bolvaer--which is, indeed, so
purely Scandinavian that it is one of the warlike names given to Odin
himself by the Norse-scalds. Bulverhithe still commemorates the landing
of a Norwegian son of the war-god. Bruce, the ancestor of the deathless
Scot, also bears in that name, more illustrious than all, the proof of
his Scandinavian birth.

[263] This mail appears in that age to have been sewn upon linen or
cloth. In the later age of the crusaders, it was more artful, and the
links supported each other, without being attached to any other material.

[264] Bayeux tapestry.

[265] The cross-bow is not to be seen in the Bayeux tapestry--the Norman
bows are not long.

[266] Roman de Rou.

[267] William of Poitiers.

[268] Dieu nous aide.

[269] Thus, when at the battle o