Bayeux Tapestry Experience

Dear family,
I hope you find this letter in the best spirit and health. I am writing you to inform you that I am still alive and that I have experienced some unpleasant situations. The Bayeux Tapestry was one of the most memorable and successful battles that I have ever participated in as a Norman soldier. The battle was fought between the strong Norman soldiers and the English soldiers. The battle of Hastings (a small town) saw the clash of two military systems. The Saxon army, centred on the King’s personal bodyguard of “housecarles”, comprised the universal levy, the “Fyrd”, led by the local leaders of each shire with their households. Thank god I am still alive. Most of my soldiers are dead or wounded. In the summer of 1066, I was a part of an army of noblemen and adventurers from across Northern France to invade England, promising lands and titles in the name of the new kingdom to my followers and obtaining the support of the Pope for the venture.
I was a part of a fleet of around 1,000 vessels, designed in the style of the old Norse “Dragon Ships” (80 feet long; propelled by oars and a single sail), was built and assembled to convey the army across the Channel. We also had soldiers who could afford it wore leather jackets with steel chain or ring mail sewn into the leather and a conical helmet with a nose guard, carrying a spear, sword and the characteristic kite shaped shield. Archers in my army were armed with a short bow. It was no secret that we intended to invade England.
We laid ready to cross the Channel, after being held in port for the duration of the summer by contrary winds, when Harold received the news that a Norwegian army led by King Harald Hadrada with Harold’s renegade brother Tostig had landed in Yorkshire after sailing up the Ouse. Harold marched his army north and routed the invaders at the battle of Stamford Bridge, in which both Harald Hadrada and Tostig were killed. The timing could not have been worse for the Saxons. The winds changed and my fleet crossed the Channel, landing on the Saxon coast unopposed on 28th September 1066.
Harold received the news of the Norman landing in York soon after his triumph over the Norse invaders and determined to march south immediately to do battle with Me and my troops. Harald Hadrada’s army had been nearly annihilated in the savage fighting at Stamford Bridge but the Saxons had suffered significant losses. But the King’s brother, Earl Gurth, urged a delay while further forces were assembled but Harold was determined to show his country that their new king could be relied upon to defend the realm decisively against every invader. By then we safely landed at Pevensey Bay, we had built a fortification and then moved further east to Hastings; my troops ravaging the countryside which was known to be part of Harold’s personal earldom.
The Saxon army arrived in the area on 13th October 1066 and established a position on a hill north west of Hastings, known subsequently as Senlac (sang lac or lake of blood); putting up a rough fence of sharpened stakes along his line, fronted by a ditch. Harold issued orders as compelling as he could make them that, when throughout the battle, his army was not to move from this position, whatever the provocation. Early on 14th October 1066 me and my troops stood, firm, along the ridge, forming the shield wall. Side by side (to coin an over-used Blairite phrase, "shoulder to shoulder") Shouting their contempt, clashing spear and ax against their shields, hurling abuse down that steep, grassy hill that so rapidly became a morass of mud and blood: "Ut! Ut! Ut! - Out! Out! Out!" then I moved forward with my army to attack the Saxon’s. The Normans were in the centre flanked on the left by the Bretons and on the right by the rest of the French. The battle was fought over the rest of the day, a savage fight with heavy casualties on both sides. Fighting is usually over within the hour, two at most. This battle lasted all day. The issue lasted until late in the afternoon. The Normans found the Saxon warriors with their battle axes, and in particular Harold’s “housecarles”, a formidable enemy. There were many accounts of knights with their horses being hacked in pieces by these terrible weapons wielded in great swinging blows. At around midday we developed an assault on the Saxon camp causing a section of Harold’s line to retreat in confusion. Reaching the top of an incline the Saxons turned on us pursuing Normans, held up by a ditch across their front, and drove them back with considerable loss.
In the early afternoon we left flank of Bretons , to be pursued down the hill by the fyrd where they had been attacking. With this break in the line, that Harold had so adamantly warned against, gave us the Normans the opportunity to break into the Saxon position at the top of the slope. Our attacks began to break up Harold’s army; the barrage of arrows taking a heavy toll, in particular wounding Harold in the eye. During the course of the battle we had three horses killed and was forced to ride round the field to reassure my army that I was unhurt. A particularly savage fight developed around the position held by the now severely wounded Harold and his royal housecarles. Finally the Saxon King was killed, followed by his brothers, Earl Gurth and Earl Leofwin, and the remaining housecarles. It was late afternoon and much of the remnants of the Saxon army gave way, fleeing the field; although a significant force continued to fight. The battle finally ended with all the remaining Saxons killed. After the battle of Hastings Williams had an abbey built on the place where the battle had been fought, and the high altar is supposed to mark the spot where Harold was killed.
The reason why my side was justified in the battle is because King Edward had appointed me his heir, and despite swearing an oath to support his claim, Harold had seized the throne and in indecent haste, and had himself crowned on the same day as the old king's funeral. I would like the battle to be remembered by knowing that the last English king died slowly and bloodily. He was savagely murdered, hacked to pieces on the battlefield that later became known as Hastings. Harold was a good king. He gave his life defending England from foreign invasion, and has paid the penalty of deliberately twisted truth ever since.