[Footnote 1: The enarmes were two thongs, or loops of leather, fixed to the inside of the shield, by which it was borne on the arm. There was besides a leather strap and buckle, by which the shield was, when not in use, strung to the warrior's neck. This extra strap was called the guige; and left the bearer the use of both hands, which were necessary when fighting with the battle axe.] [Footnote 2: L'_Estoire de Seint Ædward le Rei_ puts an energetic exhortation into William's mouth at this crisis: Ke put estre, dist-il, ceste Cuardie, segnurs Normantz, Ki ancesurs avea si grants? Rois Rou, ki as coups de lance Descumfist le rei de France, E le mata en mi sa terre, Par force de bataille e guerre; E ducs Richard k'apres li vint, Ki _li diable_ ateint e tint. E le venquit e le lia. E vus failliz, forlignez ja! Sivet moi, ma gent demeine!] [Footnote 3: _William of Poitiers_ and _William of Malmsbury_ give the following description of this gonfanon or standard: 'Memorabile quoque vexillum Heraldi, hominis armati imaginem intextum habens ex auro purissimo.' 'Vexillum illud ... quod erat in hominis pugnantis figurâ, auro et lapidibus arte sumptuosâ contextum.'] [Footnote 4: _Benoit_ and the author of the _Estoire de Seint Ædward_, describe the result of the battle and Harold's fall in a few lines. See appendix.] [Footnote 5: Some discrepancy has been pointed out between the account here given by Wace and that found in _William of Jumieges_ and _William of Poitiers_. The Latin historians say more as to resistance to the last in the battle. There can, however, hardly be said to be any material variance. The fight being ended, all agree that the English army dispersed and ultimately fled; and what Wace dwells upon seems to have reference to the circumstances of this final retreat. _Benoit_ says, Cele occise, cele dolor Tint tant cum point i out deu jor, Ne la nuit ne failli la paine Ci que parut le Diemaine. --si quide l'om bien e creit Qu'a cinc milliers furent esmé Sol eu grant champ del fereiz, Quant qu'il fussent desconfiz Estre l'occise e la martire _Qui fu tute la nuit a tire._] [Footnote 6: The author of the '_Chronicles of London Bridge_' has missed recording this notice of the early history of that structure; which seems till the reign of Hen. I, to have been of a very fragile character, probably a bridge of boats.] [Footnote 7: _William of Poitiers_ and _William of Malmsbury_ mention three horses, as killed under William. _William of Poitiers_ states his prowess to have been hailed in songs, as well as verbal applause; 'plausibus et dulcibus cantilenis efferebant.'] [Footnote 8: _William of Jumieges_ makes it the middle of the night, before William returned from the pursuit; though his subsequent expression would rather imply daylight: 'ad aream belli regressus, reperit stragem, quam non absque miseratione conspexit.']