As the ships were driven up on to the beach, William was the first man to leap ashore. Unfortunately for him he missed his footing in the surf and fell flat on his face. The massed ranks of his army gasped in alarm - surely this was a bad omen right at the start of the hazardous task of invading England. William was, however, equal to the moment. He sprang to his feet and held up a handful of sand that he had grasped as he fell.
“See”, he called out to his men, “by the splendour of God, I have taken hold of my kingdom, the very earth of England is in my hands.” A knight, his name is not recorded, followed William and ran up the beach to grab some thatch from an abandoned fishing hut.
“Take this,” he said, “as symbol that you won not only the earth of England, but also everything that stands on it.” William accepted.
from PUB AND TEASHOP DRIVES IN SUSSEX by Rupert Matthews.
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About the book
If there are two marvellous things about England that can
be found nowhere else on earth, they are pubs and tearooms. Both types
have their fans but together they sum up so much about England that is
special and unique. And Sussex had some of the finest in the kingdom.
With seventeen drives designed to start with a light lunch, then
afterwards, a leisurely drive through the beautifiul Sussex countryside.
Finally stopping off for afternoon tea. What better way to spend an
afternoon!
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