From theory, these ideas passed into practice, and thus received a
lasting consecration; another bond of fraternity was established between
the various races living on the soil of Britain: that which results from
the memory of wars fought together. William and his successors do not
distinguish between their subjects. All are English, and they are all
led together to battle against their foes of the Continent. So that this
collection of scattered tribes, on an island which a resolute invader
had formerly found it so easy to conquer, now gains victories in its
turn, and takes an unexpected rank among nations. David Bruce is made
prisoner at Neville's Cross; Charles de Blois at Roche Derien; King John
at Poictiers; Du Guesclin at Navarette. Hastings has made the defeat of
the Armada possible; William of Normandy stamped on the ground, and a
nation came forth.

FOOTNOTES:

[130] The romantic events in the life of Harold Hardrada Sigurdson are
the subject of an Icelandic saga in prose, by Snorre Sturlason (born at
Hvam in Iceland, 1178): "The Heimskringla Saga, or the Sagas of the
Norse kings, from the Icelandic of Snorre Sturlason," ed. Laing and R.
B. Anderson, London, 1889, 4 vols. 8vo, vols. iii. and iv. A detailed
account of the battle at "Stanforda-Bryggiur" (Stamford-bridge), will be
found in chaps. 89 ff.; the battle of "Helsingja port" (Hastings), is
told in chap. 100.

[131]

Taillefer ki mult bien chantout,
Sor un cheval ki tost alout
Devant le duc alout chantant
De Karlemaigne et de Rolant
E d'Oliver et des vassals
Qui morurent en Rencevals.

"Maistre Wace's Roman de Rou," ed. Andresen, Heilbronn, 1877, 2 vols.
8vo, p. 349, a statement reproduced or corroborated by several
chroniclers: "Tunc cantilena Rollandi inochata...." William of
Malmesbury, "Gesta Regum Anglorum," ed. Hardy, London, 1840, English
Historical Society, book iii., p. 415.

[132] William of Poictiers, a Norman by birth (he derived his name from
having studied at Poictiers) and a chaplain of the Conqueror, says that
his army consisted of "Mancels, French, Bretons, Aquitains, and
Normans"; his statement is reproduced by Orderic Vital: "Insisterunt eis
Cenomannici, Franci, Britanni, Aquitani et miserabiliter pereuntes
cadebant Angli." "Historia Ecclesiastica," in Migne, vol. clxxxviii.
col. 298. Vital was born nine years only after the Conquest, and he
spent most of his life among Normans in the monastery of St.