The engraving on this page is taken from another portion of the tapestry, and represents the battle of Hastings. The thick of the combat is here delineated, according to the inscription, "_Hic ceciderunt simul Angli et Franci in prelio_" ("Here at the same time English and French fell in the battle"). Horses and men are tumbling about in the agonies of death. The mailed coats and pointed helmets of the Normans are easily distinguished from the English costume. Farther on we find a party of English posted on the hill, who are making a desperate stand against the enemy with their lances. At a time when the fortune of the day seemed turning against the Normans, Odo of Bayeux galloped among the soldiers, and restored their drooping courage. He is represented in the tapestry with a staff, probably a badge of authority, and the inscription above is: "_Hic Odo episcopus, tenens baculum, confortat pueros_" ("Here Bishop Odo, holding a staff, encourages the soldiers"). The last figure in the engraving is that of the Duke of Normandy, who is represented at the head of his troops waving his sword. The inscription runs: "_Hic est Dux Wilhelm_" ("This is Duke William"). The tapestry itself goes on to delineate other details of the battle, describes the place where Harold fell, and ends with the flight of the English before the conquering troops of Normandy. CHAPTER XII. THE REIGN OF WILLIAM I. After Hastings---Election of Edgar Atheling--Submission of London and Accession of William--Tumult during his Coronation--Character of his Government--Return to Normandy---Affairs during his Absence--Suppression of the First English Rebellion--Rebellion in the North--The Last National Effort--The Reform of the Church--The Erection of Castles--Plan of a Norman Castle--End of Edwin and Morcar--"The Last of the Saxons"--Affairs in Maine--Conspiracy of the Norman Nobles--The Execution of Waltheof--Punishment of Ralph the Wader--The Story of Walcher of Durham--Expeditions to Scotland and Wales--Quarrels between William and his Sons--Domesday Book--The Creation of the New Forest--Punishment of Odo of Bayeux--The Death of William--Incidents at his Burial--Character of William. Great as were the disasters of Hastings, the English were still in a position to offer a powerful resistance, had they been united and firm. The population of London took up arms, and were further strengthened by the arrival of the Earls Edwin and Morcar within their walls, who now saw how foolish their previous treachery had been. The Witena-gemot was convened, in which, as the brothers of Harold were both slain, and his sons too young to govern, Edgar Atheling, the grand-nephew of Edward the Confessor, the only descendant of Cerdic, was elected king, chiefly through the influence of the primate Stigand, and Aldred, Archbishop of York.