Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 Excerpt:... Conan would be compelled to surrender. This is ingenious, but I concur with Mr. Freeman that a siege of Dinan is really intended, and not a siege of Rennes. The representation now under consideration offers an excellent illustration of the mode of warfare in that day. The attention of the defenders is occupied with a furious charge of cavalry, who hold their course to the very gate of the town, discharging missiles against the besieged. These gather to the spot where danger threatens, some venturing forth on to the bridge that crosses the ditch, and return the showers of javelins with right good will. Two Norman knights, apparently men of consequence, since each has a banner, take advantage 1 Freeman, "Norm. Conq." vol. iii. p. 701. "Journ. Brit. Archasol. Assoc." vol. xxiii. p. 145. William gives arms to Harold. 65 of the diversion. They dismount, drive their lances into the ground as supports for their shields, and are thus left free to act. Torch in hand, they approach the palisades which surround the town, and, seemingly unperceived by the garrison, succeed in firing them. This incident decides the fate of the day in favour of the Normans, and we see Conan handing over the keys on the point of a lance to a knight, probably Duke William, who receives them in the same way. This mode of surrendering the keys of a beleaguered city doubtless gave rise to the wellknown fabled derivation of the name of Percy. It will be observed that the creatures in the borders which are combative during the attack become very submissive when the city is reduced. T)IC: WILL6LM: D6DIT: T)AROLDO: ARMA Here William gave arms to Harold. Plate XXV. That is to say, he arms him after the fashion of knighthood, or knights him, as we should now express it. Both Du...