From this curious passage it appears that the archers of William were not a particular and distinctly organized corps, but that all the foot were armed with the bow. The caps and boots are clearly portrayed in the Bayeux tapestry; and from this valuable monument we obtain an exact confirmation of the statement of Wace, that some of the archers were clad in armour. See Plate xiii. We must observe also, that the advantage of a close formation was thoroughly appreciated at this day. The serried order of the foot noted above was also adopted by the cavalry:—
"Cil à cheval è cil à pié
Tindrent lor eire è lor compas,
Serréement lor petit pas,
Ke l'un l'altre ne trespassout,
Ne n'aprismout ne n'esloignout.
Tuit aloent serréement,
E tuit aloent fièrement."—Line 12825.
In Plate xiii. of the Bayeux tapestry, we find an archer who carries his quiver, not "el lez pendu," but slung at his back, so that the arrows present themselves at the right shoulder. In Plate xvi. we have a mounted archer joining a group of knights in the chase of the discomfited Saxons; from which we may venture to infer, that on the rout of an enemy it was the practice of such bowmen as could obtain horses, to act with the cavalry in the pursuit of the flying foe.
GREAT SEAL OF WILLIAM RUFUS.
No. 26.
If the Norman archers were for the most part clad in "cors dras," the horsemen were fully furnished in the choicest military equipment of the day:—
"Dunc issirent li Chevalier,
Tuit armé è tuit haubergié[164]:
Escu al col, healme lacié:
Ensemble vindrent al gravier[165],
Chescun armé sor son destrier.
Tuit orent ceintes les espées,
El plain vindrent lances levées.
Li Barunz orent gonfanons,
Li chevaliers orent penons."—Rom. de Rou, l. 11639.
"Chevaliers ont haubers è branz,
Chauces de fer, helmes luizanz,
Escuz as cols, as mains lor lances."—Line 12813.