Note 1348 — Chapter XV · THE NORMAN INVASION AND THE CAMPAIGN OF HASTINGS.[1055] (continued 2)

Roman de Rou, 12929;

“Fet orent devant els escuz

De fenestres è d’altres fuz,

Devant els les orent levez

Come cleies joinz è serrez;

N’i lessierent nule jointure,

Fet en orent devant closture.

Par ù Normanz entrels venist,

Ki descunfire les volsist.

D’escuz è d’aiz s’avironerent,

Issi desfendre se kuiderent;

Et s’il se fussent bien tenu,

Jà ne fussent li jor veincu.”

Will. Malms. iii. 241. “Pedites omnes cum bipennibus, consertâ ante se scutorum testudine, impenetrabilem cuneum faciunt; quod profectò illis eâ die saluti fuisset, nisi Normanni simulatâ fugâ more suo confertos manipulos laxâssent.” On the shield-wall, see vol. i. p. 300. Cf. the γέῤῥα of the Persians at Plataia, Herod. ix. 61 (see Blakesley’s note), and the palisade at Mykalê, ix. 97.