Note 1154 — Chapter XV · THE NORMAN INVASION AND THE CAMPAIGN OF HASTINGS.[1055]

William of Poitiers (127) says of the forts both at Pevensey and at Hastings, that they were “quæ sibi receptaculo, navibus propagnaculo forent.” So Guy (141);

“Littora custodis, metuens amittere naves,

Mœnibus et munis, castraque ponis ibi.”

This shows the falsehood of the story of William burning his ships, of which the first traces appear in Wace, 11731;

“Dunc fist à toz dire è crier,

Et as mariniers comander

Ke li nés fussent despécies,

A terre traites è percies,

Ke li coarz ne revertissent

Ne par li nés ne s’enfoïssent.”

William of Jumièges (vii. 34) certainly makes the most of the fort at Pevensey; “Statim firmissimo vallo castrum condidit, probisque militibus commisit.” The notion that some part of the Roman walls was made use of is suggested by the words of Guy (143);

“Diruta quæ fuerant dudum castella reformas;

Ponis custodes ut tueantur ea.”