The English soldiers form a ‘shield wall’, as protection from the advancing Norman cavalry and archers. The ‘shield wall’ is a tactic still in use today by riot police. The first casualties of the battle appear in this scene. Scene's of the fallen soldiers now replace the characters in the bottom border. Ivo Taillefer was the name of a Norman minstrel, who, by requested, was given permission to strike the first blow at the Battle of Hastings. After killing three Englishmen, Taillefer was himself finally killed. The two upended birds in the lower border may represent the clash of the two mighty armies.