Dear Journal, 22.June.1066
The King of England Edward the Confessor has died and William Duke of Normandy has his eye on being King of England. My father, Sir Seinford of Le Man has decided that I should go to the battle with William Duke Of Normandy to fight for the right of William to be King. After all, my father is a Knight and I will take his spot one day. I think that this battle is going to give me a good chance to get my father’s approval and that he will know I am able to hold his position with power and loyalty.
On the bad side, I may not come back alive and who will bury me? I hope that I will live and that we will not lose for the stakes are for me and my country.
I have decided to take my horse Feu et Vent (Fire and Wind) as she is very strong, powerful horse who could carry me to victory. My chainmail is heavy and my lance long so she needs to be fit enough to take me. She has been trained to bite and kick other people and I am the only one that she does not kick and bite. I also trust her to do me well.
Dear Journal, 1.July.1066
Today is the day that I will be going to the docks were we will go off to England. But by the looks of the weather we will probably be not sailing as there is no wind.
Once I got to the docks I found I was right. The wind is down and we are not sailing today. We have been given accommodations for the night and very strict rules on not to get into trouble, not to break a woman’s heart and to not be caught drunk and many more.
The food is great, I wish that we never have to go to England. Us Knights, every night have a big feast. Roast Lamb is my favorite, with a drizzle of grave. Mmmmm, delicious.
I wonder what we are missing in England? Has someone already taken the crown? Whats Happening!
Dear journal, 10.October.1066
Today we are finally going to England. We are going to get this over with. I am dreading it. At the moment I am packing my stuff and loading my horse on to the boat. We are ready to set sail early in the morning, the wind has picked up and what better weather could we wish for to go and sail today.
We have been sailing through the night and the ship in front has spotted land. We are all starting to prepare ourselves to fight the Englishmen from the moment we land. I was dreading seeing blood and death all around me, but surprisingly once we had got to shore, there was no one there. No one guarding the coastline. So William decided we would have a feast. Tomorrow we will start to head inland. We have no idea what is in store for us.
Dear Journal 13.October.1066
Over the last few days, since there has been no sign of Harold Godwinson and his army. William made us go into villages along the way and kill the villagers, burn their houses and take their crops to get the attention of the Englishmen.It was a terrible scene all around me, I didn’t want to kill these people as they were not fighting us, instead they were just trying to run away, helpless. We were killing them like flies. It was a dreadful sight to see.
We are starting to hear word that Godwinson is coming with his army and gathering men from each village he passes, I fear this will be a long and tiring battle.I feel like this battle will be soon and will be bloody.
Dear Journal 14.october.1066
I fear that this may be my last entry,this morning every soldier has been given benediction. We are ready to fight.
My horse is ready and she is very fiery, and seems to know that today is the day of our battle.
William has split us into three groups, archers at the front, foot soldiers in the middle and us, the calvary, at the back. We are facing Harold Goodwinson, who is at the top of the hill, with hundreds of men making a wall of shields and waving their swords up high, trying and succeeding to intimidate us. I think that we are more prepared although it will be difficult for the arrowmen to shoot up the hill, we do not have the advantage and with the moors behind us, some men have already been injured falling.
Our archers are trying to break the wall, by shooting up into the sky, but only a few have penetrated. It has had little effect on the shield wall. The archers have moved back and the soldiers are moving to the front.The battle has started. Us Normans, are racing towards the Saxons, once we get to the wall, the soldiers are hacking with their swords, but not making much ground. We are watching and ordered by William to move forward.
The soldiers have made a gap in the wall and so we, the calvary, rode into this space. A few of the horses fell on top of their riders, killing them, but I managed to calm my horse and move back a little.All of a sudden, William ordered one group of soldiers to pretend to surrender and move back. This worked! The shield wall broke and the Saxons started chasing them down the hill, leaving us still in front of the rest of the soldiers. They attacked us.
My horse reared flipping back onto me, breaking my back, leaving me helpless and unable to defend myself or run away. There are many injured and dying soldiers around me, it feels as if my life is slowly ending. I see Godwinson hit by an arrow through his eye and one through his chin, men rush to his side as he dies. For this I am thankful, but not for long, as I see a sword above me.........
(Alexandra)
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