Yes , with thirty men-at-arms out of my father 's house and a new sword , I set out to conquer England three days after I was made knight . I did not then know that England would conquer me . We went up to Santlache with the rest -- a very great host of us . ' ` Does that mean the Battle of Hastings -- Ten Sixty-Six ? ' Una whispered , and Puck nodded , so as not to interrupt . ` At Santlache , over the hill yonder ' -- he pointed south-eastward towards Fairlight -- ` we found Harold 's men . We fought . At the day 's end they ran . My men went with De Aquila 's to chase and plunder , and in that chase Engerrard of the Eagle was slain , and his son Gilbert took his banner and his men forward . This I did not know till after , for Swallow here was cut in the flank , so I stayed to wash the wound at a brook by a thorn . There a single Saxon cried out to me in French , and we fought together . I should have known his voice , but we fought together . For a long time neither had any advantage , till by pure ill-fortune his foot slipped and his sword flew from his hand . Now I had but newly been made knight , and wished , above all , to be courteous and fameworthy , so I forbore to strike and bade him get his sword again . `` A plague on my sword , '' said he . `` It has lost me my first fight . You have spared my life . Take my sword . '' He held it out to me , but as I stretched my hand the sword groaned like a stricken man , and I leaped back crying , `` Sorcery ! '' ' -LSB- The children looked at the sword as though it might speak again . -RSB-
` Suddenly a clump of Saxons ran out upon me and , seeing a Norman alone , would have killed me , but my XXXXX cried out that I was his prisoner , and beat them off .
Aquila Eagle Fairlight Gilbert Hastings Puck Saxon Una first men-at-arms