both hosts met in the field, at a place in Sussex not farre from
[Sidenote: The order of the Englishmen.]
Hastings, whereas the abbeie of Battell was afterward builded. The
Englishmen were all brought into one entire maine batell on foot, with
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
huge axes in their hands, and paled a front with paueises, in such
wise that it was thought vnpossible for the enimie to breake their
arraie. On the other side, the Normans were diuided into seuerall
[Sidenote: The arraie of the Normans.]
battels, as first the footmen that were archers, and also those
that bare gleiues and axes were placed in the forefront, and the
horssemen diuided into wings stood on the sides in verie good order.

[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Will. Malmes._]
All the night before the battell, the Englishmen made great noise
and slept not, but sang and fell to drinking and making of reuell &
pastime, as though there had beene no account to be made of the
next daies trauell. But the Normans behaued themselues warilie and
soberlie, spending all that night in praier and confessing their
sinnes vnto God; and in the morning earelie they receiued the
communion before they went foorth to the battell. Some write, that
when duke William should put on his armour to go to the field, the
backe halfe of his curasses by chance was set on before by such as
holpe to arme him: at which chance he tooke occasion of laughter,
saieng merrilie to them that stood by; "No force, this is good lucke,
for the estate of my dukedome shall be yer night changed into a
kingdome." Beside this, he spake manie comfortable woords vnto his
men, to incourage them to the battell. Neither was Harold forgetfull
in that point on his part. And so at conuenient time when both armies
were readie, they made forward each to incounter with other, on the