om Hastings.

The street outside our doors was crowded with folk, some of the men
making their way to the market-place, about whom hung women and children
weeping; others, old people, wives and girls and little ones fleeing
from the town. I found the two sailormen who had been with me on the
boat, waiting for me. They were brawny fellows named Jack Grieves and
William Bull, who had been in our service since my childhood, good
fishermen and fighters both; indeed one of them, William Bull, had
served in the French wars.

"We knew that you were coming, Master, so we bided here for you," said
William, who having once been an archer was armed with a bow and a short
sword, whereas Jack had only an axe, also a knife such as we used on the
smacks for cleaning fish.

I nodded, and we went on to the market-place and joined the throng of
men, a vast number of them, who were gathered there to defend Hastings
and their homes. Nor were we too soon, for the French ships were already
beaching within a few yards of the shore or on it, their draught being
but small, while the sailors and men-at-arms were pushing off in small
boats or wading to the strand.

There was great confusion in the market-place, for as is common in
England, no preparation had been made against attack though such was
always to be feared.

The bailiff ran about shouting orders, as did others, but proper
officers were lacking, so that in the end men acted as the fancy took
them. Some went down towards the beach and shot with arrows at the
Frenchmen. Others took refuge in houses, others stood irresolute,
waiting, knowing not which way to turn. I and my two men were with those
who went on to the beach where I loosed some arrows from my big black
bow, and saw a man fall before one of them.

But we could do little or nothing, for these Frenchmen were trained
soldiers under proper command. They formed themselves into companies
and advanced, and we were driven back. I stopped as long as I dared,
and drawing the sword, Wave-Flame, fought with a Frenchman who was in
advance of the others. What is more, making a great blow at his head
which I missed, I struck him on the arm and cut it off, for I saw it
fall to the ground. Then others rushed up at me and I fled to save my
life.

Somehow I found myself being pressed up the steep Castle Hill with a
number of Hastings folk, followed by the French. We reached the Castle
and got into it, but the old portcullis would not cl