don and the offer of the Crown which he received at Westminster at
Mass upon Christmas Day; twelve days less than a year after Harold
had been crowned in the same place.

One comes to Battle to-day along that great and beautiful road, high
up over the sea plain, which still seems full with memories of the
Norman advance from Hastings, thinking of all that great business. If
one comes up on Tuesday, upon payment of sixpence, one is admitted
to the gardens of the house in which lie the ruins of the
abbey William founded in thankfulness to God for his victory, the high
altar of which was set upon the very spot where Harold fell: "Hic
Harold Rex interfectus est."

It was while William was encamped upon Telham Hill, expecting the
battle of the morrow, that he vowed an abbey to God if He gave him the
victory. He was heard by a monk of Marmoutier, a certain William,
called the Smith, who, when Duke William had received the crown at
Westminster, reminded him of his promise. The King acknowledged his
obligation and bade William of Marmoutier to see to its fulfilment. The
monk thereupon returned to Marmoutier, and choosing four others,
brought them to England; but finding the actual battlefield unsuited
for a monastery, since there was no water there, he designed to build
lower down towards the west. Now when the King heard of it he was angry
and bade them build upon the field itself, nor would he hear them
patiently when they asserted there was no water there, for, said he:
"If God spare me I will so fully provide this place that wine shall be
more abundant there than water is in any abbey in the land." Then said
they that there was no stone. But he answered that he would bring them
stone from Caen. This, however, was not done, for a quarry was found
close by. Also the King richly endowed the house, giving it all the
land within a radius of a league, and there the abbot was to be
absolute lord free of bishop and royal officer, [Footnote: The unique
privileges of the abbot of Battle included the right to "kill and take
one or two beasts with dogs" in any of the King's forests.] and very
many manors beside. Yet ten years elapsed before the Abbey of Battle
was sufficiently completed to receive an abbot. In 1076, however,
Robert Blancard, one of the four monks chosen by William of Marmoutier,
was appointed, but he died e'er he came to Battle. Then one Gausbert
was sent from Marmoutier, and he came with four of his brethren and
was