The warcry " OUT," has a remarkable significancy when we reflect how exactly it corresponds with the position of the English, whose great effort would be to keep the Normans " out" of their entrenchments. I have as far as possible retained the Norman words in the translation , when they have still the same or nearly the same signification in modern English ; I have also occasionally given the quaint repetitions of the original.
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William sat on his charger ; he summoned Roger, styled De Montgomeri, before him . " Foremost," said he, " in you I trust : you shall assault them from this side, and William the Seneschal, the son of Osbern, a good vassal, shall ride together with you, and shall assault them with you . You shall have the 'men of Boulogne, and of Picardy, and all
my (hired ) soldiers. On the other side Alan of the Iron Glove and Aymeri the Valiant shall lead the men of Poitou and the Bretons and all the barons from Maine. And I
with all my great people, with my friends and my kinsmen, will combat in the grand press, where the battle is the hottest."
All the barons, and knights,and men -at-arms (gueldon) were in armour. The men on foot were well armed , each one carried bow and sword ; they had caps (chapels) on their heads, and footpads (panels) tied to their feet, and good hides to their waist. Several had put on frocks (gambais), and had girt quivers and bows. The knights have hauberks and brands, boots of iron ,shining helms, shields hanging -
