Xvi LIST OF ASSOCIATES.
1877 Sheraton, H., Esq., 1 Highfield North, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead
1851 Sherratt, Thomas, Esq., 10 Basinghall Street, E C.
1862 Shute, A., Esq., 23 Drury Buildings, Water Street, Liverpool
1885 Sibbald, J. G., Esq., Admiralty, S.W.
1867 Silver, Mrs., Beechcroft, Weybridge
1876 Simion, L., Esq., Berlin (care of Asher and Co., 13 Bedford
Street, Covent Garden)
1879 Simpkinson, The Rev. J. N., North Creake, Fakeuham, Norfolk
J 879 Sinclair, The Rev. John, Fulham
1884 Skipworth, Grey H., Esq., 26 Holywell Street, Oxford
L. 1874 Smith, C. Roach, Esq., F.S. A., Vice-President, Strood, Rochester
1878 Smith, Worthington G., Esq., 81 High Street North, Dun-
stable, Beds.
1884 Smith, Jas. Early, Esq., 3 Randolph Gardens, Maida Vale, W.
1884 Smith, Jonathan, Esq., 65 Redcliffe Gardens, S.W.
1876 Smith, Miss (care of the Manager of the London and South-
western Bank, Putney)
L. 1881 Smith, Miss Agnes, Swaynesthorpe, Upper Long Ditton
L. 1865 Simpson, Rev. W. Sparrow, D.D., F.S.A., Vice-President, 9
Amen Court, E.C.
1886 Soames, Captain R., Scaldwell, Northampton
1881 Soames, Rev. C, Mildenhall Rectory, Marlborough
L. 1873 Stacye, Rev. J. Evelyn, M.A., Shrewsbury Hospital, Sheffield
1879 Stanley, Joseph, Esq., Bank Plain, Norwich
1861 Stephenson, Geo. Robt., Esq., Victoria Chambers, Victoria
Street, S.W.
1881 Sterry, J. Ash by, Esq., Martin's Chambers, Trafalgar Square
1867 Stevens, Joseph, Esq., Dorset Villa, Oxford Road, Reading
1865 Stocker, Dr., Peckham House, Peckham
L. 1878 Strickland, Edward, Esq., Bristol
1881 Surtees, Fred. R., Esq., Boxley Abbey, Sandling, near Maid-
stone, Kent
1886 Surtees, Rev. Scott, M.A., Dimsdale-on-Tees, Durham
1858 Swayne, Henry J. F., Esq., The Island, Wilton, near Sahsbury
L. 1877 Talbot, C. H., Esq., Lacock Abbey, Chippenham
1883 Tayler, F., Esq., Endsleigh, Chepstow Road, Park Hill, Croydon
1874 Taylor, John, Esq., The Museum and Library, Bristol
1876 Thairlwall, F. J., Esq., 169 Gloucester Road, Regent's Park
1875 Thompson, E. M., Esq., F.S. A., Vice-President, Keeper of
Manuscripts, British Museum, W.C.
1885 Thompson, John, Esq., Tlie Lindens, Peterborough
1877 Thorpe, George, Esq., 21 Eastcheap, B.C.
1874 Tomline, George, Esq., F.S.A,, Vice-President,* 1 Carlton
House Terrace, S.W.
1875 Trappes, T. Byrnand, Esq., Stanley House, Chtheroe
1879 Tremlett, Rear- Admiral, Belle Vue, Tunbridge Wells
1873 Tucker, S. 1., Esq., Somerset Herald, Vice-President, Heralds'
College, E.C.
1874 Tuke, William Murray, Esq., Saffron Walden, Essex
1852 Turner, John, Esq., The Cottage, Rickinghall
1884 Vallentin, J., Esq., Chichester Lodge, Park Hill Rise, Croydon
LIST OF ASSOCIATES. XVll
1867 Vaughan, John Liugard, p]sq., Heaton Norris, Stockport
1872 Vincent, Samuel, Esq., Chestham, Grange Road, Sutton,
Surrey
L 1878 Westminster, His Grace the Duke of, K.G., Grosvenor
House, W.
1853 Warwick, Right Hon. the Earl of, Warwick Castle
L. 1875 Winchester, Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of, Farnham
Castle, Surrey
1845 Woods, Sir Albert, F.S.A., Garter King of Arms, Heralds'
College, E.C.
1860 Wace, Henry T., F.S.A., Brooklands, Abbey Foregate, Shrews-
bury
L. 1878 Wake, Bernard, Esq., Abbey Field, Sheffield
1880 Walford, Edward, Esq., M.A., 2 Hyde Park Mansions, Edgware
Road
1874 Walker, E. L., Esq., 22 Great Cumberland Place, W.
1872 Walker, Mrs. Severn
1878 Walker, Rev. James, Slendford, Yeovil
1868 Wallis, Alfred, Esq., Elm Grove House, Exeter
1881 Walmsley, Gilbert G., Esq., 50 Lord Street, Liverpool
1884 Walters, Frederick A., Esq., 4 Great Queen Street, S.W.
1859 Walter, John, Esq., Vice-President, 40 Upper Grosvenor Street,
and Bearwood, Wokingham
1872 Ward, H., Esq., Rodbarton, Penkridge, Staffordshire
1844 Warne, Charles, Esq., F.S.A., 45 Brunswick Road, Brighton
1877 Way, R. E., Esq., 56 Mervan Road, Brixton
1884 Welby, John H., Esq., 12 Russell Square, W.C.
1875 Weston, J. D., Esq., Dorset House, Clifton Down, Bristol
1882 Westwood, J., junr., Esq., The Lake, Snaresbrook, Essex
1866 Whitmore, John, Esq., 124 Sloane Street, S.W.
1886 Wickens, H. W., Esq., Philpots, Hilkenbury, Toubridge
1870 Wilding, William, Esq., Montgomery
1886 Wilkie, Rev. C. Hales, Kingstone Rectory, Canterbury
1880 Williams, John, Esq., 16 Alma Road, Clifton, Bristol
1886 Wills, W. H., Esq., M.P., 25 Hyde Park Gardens, W.
1875 Wilson, C. M., Esq., Waldershaigh, Bolsterstoue, near Shef-
field
1883 Winckley, W., Esq., F.S.A., Harrow
1877 Winn, Rowland, Esq., M.P., Nostel Priory, near Waketield
1884 Winstone, B., Esq., 53 Russell Square, W.C.
L. 1882 Wolfe, Miss, High Broom, Crowborough, Sussex
L. 1881 Wood, C. F., Esq., M.A., West Park, Salisbury
1885 Wood, Humphrey, Esq., Chatham
L. 1863 Wood, Richard, Esq., Plumpton Hall, Bamford, near Roch-
dale
L. 1864 Wood, Richard H., Esq., F.S.A., F.R.G.S., Penrhos House,
Rugby
1877 Woodhouse, Dr. T. J., Ranelagh Lodge, Fulham
L. 1845 Wright, G. R., Esq., F.S.A., Hon. Curator and Librarian,
Junior Athenoeum Club, W.
1883 Wright, Mrs. (care of Arthur Parbury, Esq., Old Park, llus-
per, near Horsham, Sussex)
1886 h
Xviii LOCAL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
1859 Wyatt, Rev. C. ¥., M.A., Broughton Rectory, Banbury
1884 Wyon, Allan, Esq., 2 Langham Chambers, Portland Place, W.
L. 1863 York, His Grace the Lord Archbishop of, Blsboptborpe
L. 1844 Yates, Richard, Esq., F.S.A., Beddiugton, Surrey
1876 Yorkshire Philosophical Society, York
Local jmembers; of tlje CoimciL
Berkshike Dr. J. Stevens, Dorset Villa, Oxford Road, Reading
^^^^CouOTY^^ ^^^ I J- Reynolds, Esq., The Manor House, Redland, Bristol
Cornwall Rev. W. S. Lach-Szyrma, M.A., Newlyn, Penzance
( F. Brent, Esq., F.S.A., 19 Clarendon Place, Plymouth
iJ^'^o^ - v j Alfred Wallis, Esq , Elm Grove House, Exeter
!R. Blair, Esq., South Shields
Rev. Dr. Hooppell, Byers Green, Spennymoor
J. H. Le Keux, Esq., 64 Sadler Street, Durham
Hampshire Rev. C. Collier, M.A., F.S.A., Andover
SRev. Canon Roxitledge, St. Martin's, Canterbury
Fred. R. Surtees, Esq., Boxley Abbey, Sandling, Maid-
stone
Lancashire Sir J. A. Picton, F.S.A., Sandyknowe, Wavertree,
Liverpool
Lincolnshire J. R. Allen, Esq., F.S.A. Scot., A.LC.E., 11 Bentinck
Street, Cavendish Square, W.
Montgomeryshire M. C. Jones, Esq., F.S.A., Gungrog, Welshpool
( W. A. T. Amherst, Esq., M.P., Didlington Park,
KoRX'OLK < Brandon, Norfolk
( SirL. W. Jarvis, Knt., Middleton Towers, King's Lynn
Somersetshire ... Colonel James R. Bramble, Cleave House, Yatton,
Somerset
( J T Irvine, Esq., 90 Cromwell Road, Peterborough
Staffordshire ...^^ Lynam, Esq., Stoke-upon-Trent
Suffolk H. Prigg, Esq., Bury St. Edmund's
T. N. Brushficld, Esq., M.I)., Asylum, Brookwood,
Surrey I Woking
B. Ilicklin, Esq., Holly House, Dorknig
CORRESPONDENTS AND F0RETC4N MEMBERS. xix
( M. IT. Bloxam, Esq., F.S.A,, Rugby
Warwickshiuk ... j ^y ^^ Fretton, Esq., F.S.A., 88 Little Park Street,
Coventry
TViLTSHinK H. J. F. Swayne, Esq., The Island, Wilton, near Salis-
bury
Worcestershire... II. New, Esq., Green Hill, Evesham
( Rev. W. C. Lukis, M.A., F.S.A., Rectory, Watli, Ripon
loRKSHiRE j J jy Leader, Esq., F.S.A., Broomhall Park, Sheffield
JDonorarp C0n*e2ip0ntient£; anti JToreigu iHembers,
Arbellot, M. L'Abbe, Limoges
Ardant, Monsieur Maurice, Limoges
Bond, E. A., Esq., C.B., F.S.A. , President of the ralceogrophical Society ;
Principal Librarian^ British INluseum
Boutelou, Don Claudio, Seville
Bover, Don Joaquin Maria, IVIinorca
Brassai, Professor Samuel, Klausenberg, Transylvania
Brugsch-Bey, H., Gratz
Cara, Signor Gaetano, Cagliari
Carrara, Professor, Spalatro
Cassaquy, Monsieur Poncin, Seraings-sur-Meuse, near Liege
Cesnola, General Luigi Palma di, New York
Chalon, M. Renter, President of the Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium^
Brussels
Coste, Monsieur, Marseilles
Courval, Le Vicomte de, au Chateau de Pinon^ near Chavignon
Dassy, Monsieur, Marseilles
Delisle, Monsieur Leopold, Hon. F.S.A., Paris
Delgado, Don Antonio, INIadrid
Durand, INIonsieur Antoine, Calais
Dubosc, Monsieur, St.-Lo, Normandy
Dupont, Monsieur Gustave, Caen
Dupont, Monsieur Lecointre, Hon. F.S.A., Poitiers
Fillon, Monsieur Benjamin, Fontenay-le-Comte
Fonseca, Senhor Jose Nicolau de, (ioa, India
Formaville, Monsieur II. de, Caen
Ilabel, Ilerr Schierstein, Biberich
Hefner von Alteneck, Hcrr von, Munich
Ilildebrandt, Herr Hans, Stockhol.\n
Jones, T. Rupert, Esq., F.R.S.
Klein, Professor, Maintz
Kohne, Baron Bernliard, St. Petersburc
Lenoir, Monsieur Albert, Paris
Lindenschmidt, Dr. Jjudwig, Maintz
Michel, Francisqne, Paris
Nilsson, Professor, Lund
XX EXCHANGE OF PUBLICATIONS.
Reichensperger, Monsieur, Treves
Kichard, Monsieur Ad., Montpellier
])e Kossi, Commendatore, Rome
Schliemann, Dr. H., Athens
Da Silva, Clievalier J., Lisbon
Spano, The Canon Giovanni, Cagliari
Stephens, Professor, Copenhagen
Vassallo, Dr. Cesare, Malta
Wright, W. Aldis, Esq., M.A., Cambridge
Worsaae, His Excellency J. J., Hon. F.SA., Copenhagen
Yates, Giles Fulda, Esq., Albany, New York.
PUBLICATIONS EXCHANGED WITH
The Society of Antiquaries of London, Burlington House, London, W.
The Royal Archaeological Institute, Oxford Mansion, Oxford Street, W.
The Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society
The Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, Derby
The Kent Arch^ological Society. — Care of the Rev. Canon Scott-Robertson,
Throwley Vicarage, Faversham
The Somersetshire Society of Antiquaries, Taunton
The Sussex Archaeological Society, The Castle, Lewes
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Royal Institution, Prince's St., Edin-
burgh
The Society of Antiquaries, The Castle, Newcastle-on-Tyne
The Wiltshire Archaeological Society
The Cambrian Archaeological Association, 30 Sardinia Street, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, W.C.
The Powys-land Club.— Care of M. C. Jones, Esq., Gungrog, Welshpool
The Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland, Royal Institu-
tion, Cork, Ireland
The Royal Dublin Society, Kildare Street, Dublin
THE JOURNAL
BritisJ) arcljaeolocjital Association,
MARCH 1886.
OPENING ADDRESS AT THE BPaGHTON
CONGRESS,
DELIVERED AUGUST 17th, 1885.
BY SIR JAMES A. PICTON, F.S.A., VICE-PRESIDENT.
In appearing before you to-day it is necessary to offer a
word of apology for my occupation of the chair. His
Grace the Duke of Norfolk, who has been elected Presi-
dent of the Association for the current year, has been
prevented by circumstances from delivering the usual
inaugural address. As one of the Vice-Presidents I have
been asked to take his place: as in duty bound, I respond
cheerfully to the call, only requesting you to be lenient
in your judgment, particularly as it is the second time I
have had to perform this duty. Under these circum-
stances you will, I am sure,
" Be to my faults a little blind,
And to my virtues veiy kind."
The common subject which binds us together as an
Association is the study of archa3ology. On a recent
occasion, Avhen a number of our members were gathered
in a delightful tour of inspection of some of the antiqui-
ties of France, one of the visitors, hearing so often the
phrase used, inquired very pertinently, " What is archas-
ology â– ?" The reply to this question brings under review
the whole scope of our inquiries and discussions. In brief,
archieology may be defined as that study which connects
the ])ast with the present by its visible monuments. It
1880 1
2 OrENING ADDKESS
is distinguished from written history, which is the record
of human actions and motives. Ancient architecture has
been defined as history in brick and stone ; but this is
only one department of archaeology, which embraces, in
addition, works of art of every description on which the
human mind and hands have been employed.
To understand the present, and to give a probable in-
sight into the future, it is necessary to study the past,
where the germs have been formed which may lie dor-
mant in the present, to be developed as time rolls on.
The human mind is the same under all circumstances,
but presents itself in its results in an endless variety of
aspects. The province of archaeology is to discover,
arrange, and classify these phenomena, and connect them
with the written records of ages gone by. Beyond these
records, where they fail us entirely, the Cimmerian dark-
ness in which we are left is illuminated by the researches
of the archaeologist, who takes up the relics of the long
buried past, and by the inductive process of arrangement,
classification, and comparison, presents us with inferences
as to the condition and progress of humanity in the pre-
historic times, not less certain, and in many respects
more trustworthy, than the written records of history.
We have in our own country a rich mine of antiqua-
rian wealth to explore. We cannot pretend to vie with
the splendours of ancient Egyptian architecture, nor the
colossal grandeur of the remains of Babylon, Nineveh,
and Persepolis, nor the perfection of Grecian art in the
time of Pericles and Phidias ; but as regards the elucida-
tion of history, and the transition from the old to the
new, the series of visible objects within our reach possess
an interest for us which far transcends any which can be
derived from foreign sources. They are our own ; they
have descended to us by inheritance ; we can trace them
backward, step by step, into the night of ages, and con-
nect them by an unbroken chain with what is j)assing
before our eyes.
Notwithstanding the attention which has been paid to
the subject, the untold number of volumes which have
been written, and the ever increasing illustrations which
have been scattered broadcast, there is still much virgin
soil to turn over. In respect of those remains which
AT THE BRIGHTON CONGRESS.
have been illustrated and recorded, the interest of the
archnsologist is enhanced by tlie information tlius aftbrded
and the assistance given to his inquiries. This informa-
tion is increasing year by year, and imparts additional
zest and throws additional light on the connection of
topograjihy not only with local records but with our
national history in general.
Valuable service has been rendered by the various
local archaeological societies, of late years, in illustration
of their respective localities. It is the province of the
two Associations, which have a more general character,
to combine and compare the information thus obtained,
and to supplement it by actual inspection. Such is the
object of the present meeting of the British Archaeologi-
cal Association ; and I have no doubt that, having regard
to the history of the county, and the various monuments
by which this history is illustrated, this meeting will not
fall short in success in comparison with any of those
which have preceded it.
Of course it is not my province to anticipate, by any
detail, the various objects of interest which will come under
review. I may, however, perhaps be permitted to indi-
cate very slightly a few of the salient points to which
our attention will be directed.
Each county of England has its own peculiarities and
its own history, and Sussex yields to none for the stirring
events which have taken place within its borders, and
the existing monuments by which their memory is perpe-
tuated. The prehistoric remains are not so numerous as
those in Wiltshire, nor as those in Pembrokeshire, which
we visited last year. Tliere are, however, a number of
earthworks well worth notice, such as Cisbury, the Devil's
Dyke, Caburn, Hollingbury, and others. Tumuli or bar-
rows are met with scattered all over the Downs. Of the
original inhabitants we know nothing. Whoever they
were, they were dispossessed by the invading Cymry,
who have left traces behind them in the names of the
rivers, Ilother, Asten, Ouse, Adur, Arun, and others.
The primitive features of the landscape were furnished
by the swelling, bare chalk downs of the western por-
tion, and the dense, extensive forest of Anderida occupy-
ing the eastern part.
1 =
4 OPENING ADDRESS
At the time of the invasion of the Romans the district
was occupied by the Regni, a tribe akin to the Belgse,
whose chief seat was at Kegnum, now Chichester. The
open part of the country was occupied and cultivated by
the Koman colonists, who have left behind them many
memorials. Wherever the Romans settled they con-
structed noble roads of communication, and several exist
in Sussex. One of these, starting from Venta Belgarum
(now Winchester), led to Chichester, from whence it
turned northward, through Bignor and Pillborough, to
Dorking. A considerable part of this is still extant,
under the name of Stone Street. Another road, from
Regnum, continued along the south coast to the fortified
city of Anderida, now Pevensey. From Anderida another
road turned northward, through the forest, in the direc-
tion of London. The names " Street" (" Stone Street",
" Broad Street"), still applied, indicate the site and direc-
tion of portions of these roads. So it thus remained for
about four hundred years, during the Roman occupation.
The numerous Roman remains scattered over the
county, in at least sixteen difterent localities, present
strong evidence of the flourishing and prosperous condi-
tion of the county under the Roman dominion. The
splendid villa at Bignor, unearthed in 1811, could only
have come into existence under circumstances of peace
and refinement. But a terrible reverse was at hand.
The south coast of Britain was infested long before the
close of the Roman occupation by the fleets of the Saxon
pirates, against whose ravages special means of protection
were adopted. Fortresses were built at Portus Magnus
(now Porchester), at Regnum (now Chichester), and at
Anderida (now Pevensey).
The Romans withdrew from Britain in a.d. 410, and
the Britons were then left to their own defences. I need
not repeat the story of the invasion of Kent by the Saxons
in 449, under Hengist and Horsa. The turn of Sussex
came in 477, when ^lle, the son of Hengist, with his
three sons, Cynen, Wlencing, and Cissa, made a descent
in the neighbourhood of Selsey Bill, and ultimately took
possession and settled the district, calling it by their own
name, " Sussex", or South Saxony.
Mr. Green, in his valualjle work on tlie Maldny of
AT THE BRIGHTON CONGRESS.
England, presents us with some graphic notes on this
stirring portion of our history, from the Saxon Chronicle
and elsewhere, ^lle seems to have been one of the
most ferocious and ruthless of the Saxon warriors. He
met with a determined resistance from the Romanised
Britons, and his progress was comparatively slow. It
took him fourteen years to advance from Selsey Bill to
Beachy Head, a little beyond which lay the fortified city
of Anderida, inhabited by a prosperous population of
miners, attracted by the copious supply of iron ore, and
the extensive woods which supplied fuel for smelting.
The siege was long and difficult, but it ultimately proved
successful. In the terrible words of the Saxon Chronicle
and Henry of Huntingdon : — " This year (490) Ella and
Cissa besieged the city of Andred {Andredesceaster),
and slew all that were therein, nor was one Briton left
there afterwards."^
There are existing several very interesting remini-
scences of this conquest. Cissa has left his name in
Cissan-ceaster, now Chichester. Cijmen will be recog-
nised in the parish of Keymer, and the manor of Keijnor.
The noble fortress of Anderida was never rebuilt, and
the site continues desolate to this day ; but the walls
and bastions remain almost perfect, and present a
splendid testimony to the power and greatness of the
Roman dominion. It is to be hoped that amongst the
excursions of the coming week a visit to Pevensey, the
Danish name of the ancient Anderida, will be included.
The conquest and subjection of Sussex was so thorough
that little or nothing of the ancient British element
remains. The nomenclature is intensely Anglo-Saxon, the
suffixes almost entirely so. We find the Saxon tons and
hams very numerous, and in pretty nearly equal propor-
tions. The ings, as patronymics, are very numerous,
frequently in combination with ham, hurst, and ton, as in
Arlington, Beddiughani, Warminghurst, etc.
The sylvan character of the country in ancient times
is indicated by the frequent recurrence of the suffix liurst
1 " Ita urbem dcstruxcruiit quod muu[iiaTU postca rc-edificata est :
locus taiitum quasi nobilissinui} uvbis transcuntibus ostciiditur desi)-
latus." — JJimry of lluutingdon, Hist. AmjL, writing in the twelflh
century.
6 OPENING ADDRESS
(a wood), as in Ew-hiirst, Farn-liurst, Crow-hurst, Mid-
hurst, etc. Field indicates the open untimbered localities,
as in Maresjield, Mayjield, Rotherjield, etc. The valleys
retain the suffixes combe, and dene or deti, as Telscomhe,
Balcomhe, East and West Dene, Slayden, Mereden or
Marden. Other Saxon suffixes are found in worth, a
wayside farm, in Petivorth; or, a landing-place, in
Bogn-or, Keyn-or, Itchn-or ; ford, in Treyford, Iford, etc.
Other Saxon terminations are found in bourne, mere, fold,
ley, hithe, sted, stow, ivick, etc.
Whether any remnants of Cymric nomenclature are to
be found in the prefixes of the place-names in Sussex is
a problem yet to be solved, but which is well worth
inquiry. Some of the ancient Saxon chiefs are com-
memorated in these prefixes, as Horsa in Horsted;
Billa or Billing in Billinghurst ; Brighthelm in Bright-
helmstone, now Brighton; Beda in Beddingham; Ella in
Elsted. Cudlaiv indicates the Hlaiv, or tumulus of the
chief, Cud-bert or Cuthbert.
The ninth and tenth centuries are memorable in the
history of Sussex from the ravages of the Danes or
Northmen, who, especially during the tenth century,
repeatedly harried the coast, but never effected any
extensive settlements. Some permanent influence, how-
ever, they left behind. The six Rapes into which the
county is divided, corresponding to the Lathes of Kent
and the Ridings of Yorkshire, are of Danish origin ; and,
under the form Hre^jpr, the term is still employed in
Iceland for a similar division. Hastings commemorates
a famous Danish pirate of that name, who is supposed to
have settled there and founded the town. The ancient
town of Rye presents evidences of its Danish origin in
its name Ryg, a back or ridge. Following the coast, we
find Fevensey, a Danish name, which superseded the old
deserted Anderida. Langney, Pidding-hoe, Hove or
Hoe, Selsey, Pilsey, TJiorney, all Danish. These names
are confined to the edge of the coast, and do not appear
to have penetrated inland, the county possessing pro-
bably the purest Saxon nomenclature in the kingdom.
The next memorable incidents in the history of Sussex
are the circumstances attending the invasion and con-
quest of England by the Normans, which took place
AT THE BRIGHTON CONGRESS. 7
within this county. Bosham was the residence of
Harold, from which he took his voyage to Normandy,
which was attended with such direful results. William
the Norman landed at Pevensey. The course of his
march to Hastings, and thence along the ridge to the
fatal field of Senlac, can be traced with the utmost
minuteness. Standing on the low hill which overlooks
the downs, we can realise in the mind's-eye the events of
the memorable 15th of October 10G6, the most moment-
ous battle ever fought on English ground. We can see
the trench and stockade tlirown up by English Harold,
behind which, in the centre, clustered the body-guard of
the king, men in full armour, wielding huge battle-axes,
grouped round the Golden Dragon of Wessex and the
standard of the king. Duke William's Norman knight-
hood was arrayed on the opjDosite side. In front of
these we can see the minstrel, Taillefer, caracoling on his
steed, throwing up his battle-axe and catching it again,
whilst he chanted the song of E-oland. The sequel of
the fray, the charge on the Saxon stockade, and its
repulse ; the disorder and panic amongst the Normans ;
the coolness of head, the dogged perseverance, the inex-
haustible resource of the Norman leader ; the roar and
the tumult of the battle ; the simulated flight, and
sudden rally of the Normans ; the contest prolonged till
sundown, when a chance arrow piercing Harold's eye,
wrecked the hopes of the English and brought the battle
to a close — all this is brought vividly to the mind when
standing on the rising ground commanding a view of the
site. From this point English history takes a fresh
departure —