ABSTRACT
The form which William had chosen was that of three parallel corps, each containing infantry and cavalry. After landing at Pevensey on September 28, William had moved to Hastings and built a wooden castle there for the protection of his fleet. It was then in his power to have moved on London unopposed, for Harold was only starting on his march from York. Harold took up his position at the point where the road from London to Hastings first leaves the woods, and comes forth into the open land of the coast. The best of infantry, armed only with weapons for close fight and destitute of cavalry support, were absolutely helpless before a capable general who knew how to combine the horseman and the archer. The archers, unsupported by the knights, could easily have been driven off the field by a general charge.
