Ode To Senlac Ridge
Tis often said
King Harold was dead
Up on Senlac Ridge
Arrow from the sky
Took out it his eye
Up on Senlac Ridge
Tis more recently thought
Harold not thoroughly sought
Amongst the dead of Senlac Ridge
Saxon joy unfound
His body ne’er found
Amongst the dead of Senlac Ridge
Tis sometimes said
Another body was instead
The King of Senlac Ridge
That body was for sure
Buried at sea shore
The King of Senlac Ridge
Tis quietly spoke
By Anglo-Saxon folk
After Senlac Ridge
Harold escaped the fight
And put to flight
After Senlac Ridge
Tis often yearned
Of Harold’s return
In revenge for Senlac Ridge
Rebellion on his mind
Kick the Bastard’s behind
In revenge for Senlac Ridge
Tis sometimes spake
He became The Wake
Repaid William for Senlac Ridge
Evaded capture with skill
Normans he did kill
Repaid William for Senlac Ridge
Tis often told
The Wake grew old
Honour repaid for Senlac Ridge
A monk’s life he would keep
In Bosham he would weep
Honour repaid for Senlac Ridge
(Paul Bailey 2011)
The Last Saxon Shieldwall
Side by side they stood
A famous brotherhood
The Housecarls of the Wall
Held their shield and sword
Gave protection to their Lord
The Housecarls of the Wall
Brutal punishment they’d take
Norman cavalry tried to shake
Those soldiers from the Wall
Sally forth and then retreat
Different tactics tried to beat
Those soldiers from the Wall
Norman destrier and Knight
Tried with all their might
To breach that Saxon Wall
Farmer, commoner and Thegn
Bound together and retained
That Anglo-Saxon Wall
For many hours it did stand
Parry, thrust and then backhand
Fought the soldiers of the Wall
Norman arrow, sword and lance
Took their aim for half a chance
To pierce that solid Wall
Norman infantry feigned retreat
William’s horse did him unseat
Loud cheers sang from the Wall
Saxons chased them down the hill
Norman cavalry them did kill
A hole appeared in the Wall
No quarter did they give
Their honour just to live
Those heroes of the Wall
Just survive the day
Reinforcements on their way
Those heroes of the Wall
Many hours did take its toll
Now fewer numbers on the knoll
Stood the finest Saxon Wall
The fittest and the brave
On their own did try to save
The finest Saxon Wall
Senlac Ridge was where
King Harold did prepare
That final Saxon Wall
In Hasting’s autumn sun
Died there one by one
The final Saxon Wall
Many corpses lay around
That final killing ground
Of Senlac’s Saxon Wall
Normans, Saxons and a King
Heaven’s Angels for them sing
A tribute to them all
(Paul Bailey 2011)
Hereward the Wake
As an exile he returned
To a land all raped and burned
Seeking vengeance for his people
The Normans had laid waste
To the Fens, his fields, his space
Took shelter under Ely’s steeple
To fight for Anglo-Saxon kind
Seeking vengeance for his people
Anglo-Saxon King now dead
Duke William ruled instead
Rebels grew under Ely’s steeple
Harass, probe and then retreat
The Normans grew cold feet
Gave hope to his rebellious people
Anglo-Saxons gave applause
To his rally and his cause
An army gathered under Ely’s steeple
Duke William went to meet
His Norman army in retreat
Gave guidance to his people
No quarter to be given
“Kill them all, none to be living”
Dark clouds surround Ely’s steeple
Twas not an easy task
Through bog, mulch and marsh
To make battle against Saxon people
As they sheltered on an isle
With local knowledge as their guile
Saxons made defence of Ely’s steeple
For days and days they tried
To move Saxons from their isle
Divine help saves Saxon people
Some Monks that William swayed
To their people have betrayed
Safe passage to Ely’s steeple
Norman victory is in their grasp
Saxons battle to the last
The Exile fights for his own people
Battles on for Saxon’s sake
The last hero, Hereward the Wake
Honour remembered under Ely’s steeple(Paul Bailey 2011)
Ode to Stamford Bridge
September 1066 they came
Viking, Norseman, and the Danes
For the prize of England’s North
Three hundred longships came in tow
Up the Ouse they had to row
Their hungry eyes on York
With them was the King’s brother
Come to cause a lot of bother
Back to reclaim England’s North
Rape, pillage and to burn
Harsh lessons for the North to learn
Tostig’s eyes are set on York
English Earls decide to wait
Make battle at Fulford Gate
Defend the capital of the North
Alas the Anglo-Saxons are outdone
The Norsemen have overrun
Their prized city of York
King Harold is aghast
His army march north fast
To meet the Viking invasion
Get the timing right
Surprise the invaders in fight
Wait for the right occasion
T’was a hot summers day
When Harold met his prey
At a place called Stamford Bridge
Viking armour left at their base
Tostig parleyed face to face
On the banks of Stamford Bridge
The battle was no match
The Vikings were despatched
Saxon victory at the Bridge
Tostig and Viking King were dead
All Viking dreams ripped to shreds
Honour restored at Stamford Bridge
(Paul Bailey 2011)
Harrowing of the North
An independent State they cherish
But many lives will perish
For the people of the North
Rebel against the Norman King
They could lose everything
For the freedom of the North
Northern Earls take a chance
To William’s tune they will not dance
Sit tight under York’s holy steeple
King William is not amused
Ready now to light the fuse
Dark times for Northern people
Norman army marches north
Soldiers and cavalry sally forth
To punish Northern people
Rape, plunder and to pillage
Bloodshed found in every village
No pity for Northern people
1070 was that fateful year
That every Northerner had to fear
Starvation for Northern people
No house or field is left unturned
Crops are wasted; fields are burned
Lesson learnt for these poor people
Northern Earls flee in disorder
Finding safety across the border
Independence had lost its zeal
The devastation was so great
Northerners would have to wait
(Paul Bailey 2011)
King Harold Lives
History tells us of a time
When Normans came to commit a crime
English invasion made under false claim
Kill the Saxon King was William’s aim
King Harold’s coronation was not recognised
By the Church or by Papal eyes
Duke William sought to take a chance
For a Papal blessing with the Devil he'd dance
“Remove this unjust King”
The Papal message then did ring
William was too happy to oblige
For England’s bounty was in his eyes
The Papal banner flying by his side
Duke William fights with God he cried
At Hastings he fought the Saxon wall
For almost a day it would not fall
As dusk approached the sun did set
King Harold’s death was surely met
A mass of limbs was all they found
Strewn with many torsos on the ground
Is that Harold? They were not sure
They asked his mistress so mild and pure
“Yes that’s him” she meekly lied
Then to the ground she sobbed and cried
Normans satisfied with her plea
Buried that body by the sea
The real Harold the fight he’d fled
Safe to fight another day instead
Perhaps his Crown he would forsake
Perhaps he returned as Hereward the Wake
When Harold died we are not sure
(Paul Bailey 2011)
