cording to the
_Carmen_ William I. had Harold's body wrapped in purple linen and
carried to Hastings, where it was buried on the cliff beneath a stone
inscribed with the words: "By the order of the Duke, you rest here, King
Harold, as the guardian of the shore and the sea." Mr. Lower was
convinced of the truth of that story; but William of Malmesbury says
that William sent Harold's body to his mother the Countess Gytha, who
buried it at Waltham, while a third account shows us Editha of the Swan
Neck, Harold's wife, wandering through the blood-stained grass, among
the fallen English, until she found the body of her husband, which she
craved leave to carry away. William, this version adds, could not deny
her.

[Sidenote: THE FIELD OF BLOOD]

Fuller writes in the _Worthies_, concerning the wonders of
Sussex:--"Expect not here I should insert what _William_ of _Newbury_
writeth (to be recounted rather amongst the _Untruths_ than _Wonders_);
viz. 'That in this County, not far from Battail-Abby, in the Place
where so great a slaughter of the Englishmen was made, after any shower,
presently sweateth forth very fresh blood out of the Earth, as if the
evidence thereof did plainly declare the voice of Bloud there shed, and
crieth still from the Earth unto the Lord.' This is as true, as that in
_white_ chalky Countries (about Baldock in Hertfordshire) after rain run
rivolets of _Milk_; Neither being anything else than the Water
discoloured, according to the _Complexion_ of the Earth thereabouts."

[Illustration: _Mount Street, Battle._]

The Conqueror was true to his vow, and the Abbey of St. Martin was
quickly begun. At first there was difficulty about the stone, which was
brought all the way from Caen quarries, until, according to an old
writer, a pious matron dreamed that stone in large quantities was to be
found near at hand. Her vision leading to the discovery of a
neighbouring quarry, the work proceeded henceforward with exceeding
rapidity.

[Sidenote: ST. MARTIN'S ABBEY]

Although the first Abbot was appointed in 1076, William the Conqueror
did not live to see the Abbey finished. Sixty monks of the Order of St.
Benedict came to Battle from the Abbey of Marmontier in Normandy, to
form its nucleus. It was left to William Rufus to preside over the
consecration of Battle, which was not until February, 1095, when the
ceremony was performed amid much pomp. William presented to the Abbey
his father's coronation robe and th