William's Fleet

William's ships carried 7,000 or more men, and very importantly up to 2,000 horses for the knights. Horses don't like boats, and it must have been difficult to get them on and off--the Bayeux Tapestry shows them being made to jump over the sides of the ships.

The ships also carried armour, weapons, shields and supplies, probably including salty bacon, cheese, hard-baked bread and certainly barrels of wine. William drank wine with his breakfast on the day of the landing.