Note 24 — PART II HISTORICAL STUDIES

The case of the battle of Varaville, in 1058, is precisely similar in this respect to that of the Battle of Hastings. Of the former Mr Freeman writes: 'Wace alone speaks, throughout his narrative, of a bridge. All the other writers speak only of a ford' (iii. 173). Now Wace's authority was better for this, the earlier battle, because, says Mr Freeman, he knew the ground. Yet the Professor did not hesitate to reject his 'bridge'. So again, in 'the campaign of Hastings', Mr Freeman rejects 'the falsehood of the story of William burning his ships, of which the first traces appear in Wace' (iii. 408). So much for placing our reliance upon Wace, when he stands alone.