Romney

Old Romney Church - Photo ©
Ian Dunster, August 10 2007

At some stage of the campaign before the great battle, certain stragglers from the Norman fleet or army had made their way eastward as far as Romney, and had there fallen in a skirmish with the townsmen. The words of our accounts leave it uncertain whether a portion of the fleet lost its way on the passage, or whether a detachment of the army wandered thither from Hastings.

William began his eastward march along the south coast. The first point which he reached was Romney, where he was within the borders of the ancient kingdom of Kent. Romney was, in those days, no less than Pevensey, a famous haven, but the physical agencies which have wrought so much change along that whole line of coast, have destroyed the importance of the town by removing the sea from its immediate neighbourhood. Like most of the havens of this coast, it was endowed with special privileges, and in return for them it was bound to take its share in the naval defence of the land. The men of Romney had not been slack in the discharge of that duty. They had, as we have seen, at some time before the great battle, cut in pieces a body of Norman stragglers, for whose blood William now came to take vengeance.

It was his policy now, as ever, to be harsh wherever he met with resistance and gentle to all who submitted easily. The line of his march was marked by ceaseless ravage, ravage inflicted, no doubt, like the ravages before the battle, with a deliberate purpose. Before the battle, he had wished to provoke Harold to come to the rescue of his suffering subjects. He now wished to strike terror, and thereby to bring about submission. Harrying then as he went, William reached Romney. The words which set forth his doings there are short, pithy, and terrible. "He took what vengeance he would for the slaughter of his men." --Freeman