Duke William's Fury

The kill was near, static prey in sight

The Duke could not withhold delight

White hart now locked firm in his view

Unaware of missile speeding through

The silent copse of Beech and mast

To it’s target now closing fast

Until the thunder of snorting destrier

Alerts the prey of danger near

Immediately darts to safety’s keep

Hidden from harm in thicket deep

Messenger dismounts in fear and alarm

Presents the Duke news from afar

With reddening face and veins ice blue

William screams, “This can’t be true!”

Edward is dead, Harold now King

Promises made don’t mean anything

Vengeance burning in his smouldering eyes

William’s fury fixed on his new prize

Capture the Crown from Harold’s hands

With God’s help he’ll make a stand

The hunt now over, invasion is planned

Men, horses and ships William will demand

Invasion is ready September 1066

A colossal armada of six hundred ships

Wait for the wind to blow in their favour

Crossing the Channel not many will savour

Nature relents as if signalling green light

The Normans are coming to take up the fight

Saxon navy is waiting to give them a blow

Norman fleet is harried their progress is slow

At last they arrive safely, camp on England’s shore

Anglo-Saxons in danger like never before

No welcoming army to send them back forth

Harold’s fighting the Vikings way up in the North

Normans build their defences and search the terrain

Plunder and pillage the name of their game

Harold defeats the Norsemen, so marches back south

His intention to give William a smack in the mouth

Tired Saxons meet invaders and get ready for battle

England’s Crown to be decided in a field fit for cattle

Both armies are fighting for honour and glory

The Battle of Hastings now that’s quite a story

That fateful morn on Caldbec Hill

Birds were silent the air was still

On that fateful morn on Caldbec Hill

The morning dew lay in its bed

A lake of tears that would be shed

For Saxon souls that would depart

England’s mortal heart ripped apart

By Normans, Flems and Bretons too

Come to taste the blood of whom

Stand in their way for England’s Crown

A man of wealth and world renown

King Harold’s army stands firm and tall

Impressive ranks form their shield wall

Duke William’s attack can start at will

On that fateful morn on Caldbec Hill

On this frosty morn in 1066

Sword and shield were firmly fixed

Leather jerkins strapped and secure

Shield wall ready, strong and sure

Flags of war ripple and flutter

Words of prayer were heard a mutter

Nervous breaths were clear to see

Hardened stares faced their enemy

Autumnal leaves leap and prance

In preparation of impending advance

A rain of arrows marked the start

From Norman ranks they did depart

The Battle commenced its cries were shrill

On that fateful morn on Caldbec Hill

The first advance was soon repelled

The shieldwall shaken but it had held

To jeers and shouts of Saxon delight

At Flemish soldiers who’d turned in flight

A cavalry charge was dealt the same

The Saxons winning the early game

Duke William is dead the Norman’s fear

But back on his horse the invaders cheer

As William leads the next assault

Stopping the Normans from early revolt

Hour after hour the shield wall was battered

But it held that was all that mattered

As King Harold’s crown was shining still

On that fateful day on Caldbec Hill

The Battle continued throughout the day

Reinforcements were coming the Saxons pray

Their shield wall was thinning it could not last

England’s Crown nearly in Norman grasp

As dusk approached the shield wall scatters

Saxon defence is now in tatters

A final stand to save their King

Ends in despair, the Normans win

There were thousands that died on that autumn day

Young men, boys and farmers not there to play

Battlefield new in colour, blood red now its hue

Senlac is it’s new name forgotten by few

Every October they pay homage, remember them still

Of that fateful day up on Caldbec Hill