"Li archiers sunt primiers iessuz: El terrain sunt primiers venuz. Dunc a chescun son arc tendu, Couire et archaiz el lez pendu. Tuit furent rez è tuit tondu, De cors dras furent tuit vestu."--_Rom. de Rou_, l. 11626. These shaven and shorn, short-coated archers, with their quivers hung at their side, are exactly reproduced in the Bayeux tapestry (Plates XIII., XV., and XVI.):-- "La gent à pié fu bien armée: Chescun porta arc et espée. Sor lor testes orent chapels, A lor piez liez lor panels. Alquanz unt bones coiriés, K'il unt à lor ventre liés. Plusors orent vestu gambais, Couires orent ceinz et archais. * * * * * Cil a pié aloient avant Serréement, lors ars portant."--_Line_ 12805. From this curious passage it appears that the archers of William were not a particular and distinctly organized corps, but that _all the foot_ were armed with the bow. The caps and boots are clearly portrayed in the Bayeux tapestry; and from this valuable monument we obtain an exact confirmation of the statement of Wace, that some of the archers were clad in armour. See Plate XIII. We must observe also, that the advantage of a close formation was thoroughly appreciated at this day. The serried order of the foot noted above was also adopted by the cavalry:-- "Cil à cheval è cil à pié Tindrent lor eire è lor compas, Serréement lor petit pas, Ke l'un l'altre ne trespassout, Ne n'aprismout ne n'esloignout. Tuit aloent serréement, E tuit aloent fièrement."--_Line_ 12825. In Plate XIII. of the Bayeux tapestry, we find an archer who carries his quiver, not "el lez pendu," but slung at his back, so that the arrows present themselves at the right shoulder. In Plate XVI. we have a mounted archer joining a group of knights in the chase of the discomfited Saxons; from which we may venture to infer, that on the rout of an enemy it was the practice of such bowmen as could obtain horses, to act with the cavalry in the pursuit of the flying foe. [Illustration: GREAT SEAL OF WILLIAM RUFUS. No. 26.] If the Norman archers were for the most part clad in "cors dras," the horsemen were fully furnished in the choicest military equipment of the day:-- "Dunc issirent li Chevalier, Tuit armé è tuit haubergié[164]: Escu al col, healme lacié: Ensemble vindrent al gravier[165], Chescun armé sor son destrier. Tuit orent ceintes les espées, El plain vindrent lances levées. Li Barunz orent gonfanons, Li chevaliers orent penons."--_Rom. de Rou_, l. 11639.