Note 1352 — Chapter XV · THE NORMAN INVASION AND THE CAMPAIGN OF HASTINGS.[1055] (continued 2)
Reading edition
The heavy-armed English in the Tapestry are largely armed with the axe, which one only of the light-armed in plate 15 seems to carry. Wace therefore is hardly accurate when he says (12927),
“Geldons Engleiz haches portoent,
E gisarmes ki bien trenchoent.”
“Geldons” being said to mean peasants. He had before said (12839),
“Li vilain des viles aplouent,
Tels armes portent com ils trovent,
Machues portent è granz pels,
Forches ferrées è tinels.”
The “lignis imposita saxa” of William of Poitiers (133) can hardly mean engines for hurling stones, but rather such rude weapons as are described in the text. Perhaps we may recognize them in the odd-looking clubs which are borne by the flying English in the Tapestry, pl. 16, and one of which is shown as hurled in pl. 14. Otherwise the light-armed are mainly armed with javelins, as in pl. 15. I follow the Tapestry throughout as to the equipment of the two classes of English.