RJP:FNQ:HerewardIX

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De Gestis Herwardi Saxonis.

IX.

Quomodo Quendam insignem militem vicerit, et ipsum incolumem qualiter ad socios perduxerit.

Erat namque interdum parti adversariæ quidam nepos comitis de Guines Hoibrictus nomine, eques virtute animi et consilio bellorum magnificus, qui instar leonis fortitudine in grege etiam ipse et computabatur in exercitu. Huic quodam die forte extra comitatum solus adhæsit Herwardus, et in virtutibus animorum sibi, invicem non agnoscentes, fortiter simul coierant, confractis in primo impulsu lanceis. Dehinc statim sese gladiis cædebant, verum attonitum ex ictu dies sub aure forte Herwardus reddidit. At continuo in adjutorio illius concurrentibus plurimis, tantorum manus declinans, ipsum in ulnis suscepit et ad socios conduxit, interim licet expergisceretur de manibus ejus eumpere nitens. Quo facto comes de Ginnes valde obstupuit, et nimio timore et mœrore ob nepotis inclytique militis excidium etiam et dolore affixus, sequente die suo principi debitum honorem et servitium, mandavit, et munera simul ac obsides contulit. Audierant enim laudabilis viri Herwardi famam, et quid in Hibernia et Cornubia egerat, et fortitudinem jam viderat.

The Exploits of Hereward the Saxon.

IX.

How Hereward overcame a famous soldier, and led him safe and sound to his companions.

There was occasionally present in the party of the enemy a grandson of the Count of Ginnes, by name Hoibrictus ¹, a knight glorious for courage and knowledge of warfare, who was accounted in the army like a lion among a flock for bravery. Hereward by himself one day came upon him beyond the company, and without recognising one another, out of excessive valour, they mightily clashed together, and at the first onset their lances were broken ². Then they attacked one another with swords, and Hereward dealt him an astounding blow under the ear. And while many rushed to his assistance, Hereward, evading them all, took him to his companions, although meantime he recovered his senses and strove to escape. The Count of Ginnes wondered at this, and was alarmed and grieved because of the downfall of his grandson, a renowned soldier ; and on the following day sent to offer due honour and service to his prince, and also sent presents and hostages. For he had heard of he fame of Hereward, so worthy of his praise, and what he had done in Ireland and Cornwall ; and how he had seen his bravery.

Commentary.

1. This is perhaps a Hubert. Eustace I is known to have had a grandson called Hugh to whom Hoibrictus might refer though he became an archdeacon and there is little to connect the names as forms a single one. See List of Counts of Guînes.

2. There are several places in the story where fights are described and together, they give a picture of what was seen as the honourable and dishonourable ways of going about the procedure. The honourable way seems to have been to fight one to one and begin with an attempt to insert a lance below the hauberk into the opponent’s thigh. The lances appear to have been light and susceptible to breaking but against this their mass will have been small so that they could rapidly be re-directed as opportunity arose. A heavier javelin would not be manageable when held at arm’s length in this way. It was a throwing weapon and apparently rather frowned upon as dishonourable when used in a surprise attack as in Chapter III.