1066

Son of a bastard, given to shout

for him, a nation awaited

He prayed to the god of men

and saw a time of blood

Ships were built, a fleet for the ages

Wine and spears were taken aboard

such spectacle had ne'er been seen

since Agammemnon made his war!

Said Harald: "Bring your Bastard King!

He has no claim to Mercia!

He'll find naught here but slaughter,

and an ignominious death!"

And so they mustered Saxon men

for marching to the sea,

With Mercians to arms again

and Welsh bows by their side.

The Northmen came to fight!

Leaving Armour at the shore

Charging on to Wessex,

blood stained the forest floor.

At Stamford Bridge the Vikings fell,

down to one, who with his axe,

made the Saxons fear his name!

At the battle many will fall

from farmer to mighty king.

On the anvil of shatter'd shields,

a nation was forged in blood.

To Battle, a hill of verdant green,

brightly shone the midday sun.

William and a thousand horse sallied,

men of sword and spear did follow

Once again the mighty fyrd

made line and crashed their shields

Dregs of men, but no less brave,

with furrowed brows and beaten steel

Arrows flew but few fell

Up the mighty hill they charged

into the English lines; The knights tore

Saxon flesh and mail

Irony of valour showed

Son of Godwin shot in th'eye,

his army laid like winterwheat

before the peasant scythe.