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Updated: June 15, 2025
These various representations, and the remembrance of Canute's victory, decided Hardrada; and, when Tostig ceased, he stretched his hand towards his slumbering warships, and exclaimed: "Eno'; you have whetted the beaks of the ravens, and harnessed the steeds of the sea!" Meanwhile, King Harold of England had made himself dear to his people, and been true to the fame he had won as Harold the Earl.
They prevented the Normans from crossing the Channel until the Saxon king and his army of defence had been called away from the Sussex coast to encounter Harald Hardrada in Yorkshire: and also until a formidable English fleet, which by King Harold's orders had been cruising in the Channel to intercept the Normans, had been obliged to disperse temporarily for the purpose of refitting and taking in fresh stores of provisions.
During the pause, Harold summoning Gurth, said to him in great emotion, "For the sake of Nature, for the love of God, go, O Gurth, go to Tostig; urge him, now Hardrada is dead, urge him to peace. All that we can proffer with honour, proffer quarter and free retreat to every Norseman . Oh, save me, save us, from a brother's blood!"
At last he found his way to King Harold Hardrada of Norway; and this warlike king gave him a fleet and an army and came himself to strike a blow against England. The Norwegians landed on the shores of Northumbria, and began to ravage the country and burn the dwellings of the people. Messengers were sent on swift horses to Harold.
Ten rows of teeth it had; and it came out of the river on its hind legs, and clawed at the king with iron gloves. They fought till sundown, they say, man and beast; and hard work had the king to slay the awesome creature. He's a great fighter, is King Harold Hardrada. The others marched in silence for a time, thinking about this fearful adventure of the Norwegian king.
Now, York having thus capitulated, all the land round was humbled and awed; and Hardrada and Tostig were blithe and gay; and many days, thought they, must pass ere Harold the King can come from the south to the north. The camp of the Norsemen was at Standford Bridge, and that day it was settled that they should formally enter York.
A rider of younger and slighter form than the rest, here whispered the Saxon King: "Delay no more, or thy men's hearts will fear treason." "The tie is rent from my heart, O Haco," answered the King, "and the heart flies back to our England." He waved his hand, turned his steed, and rode off. The eye of Hardrada followed the horseman. "And who," he asked calmly, "is that man who spoke so well?"
Driven from Yorkshire by the forces of the northern earls he sailed to Scotland, where he was welcomed by King Malcolm, both as a sworn brother and as the enemy of England. From Scotland he entered into negotiations with Harold Hardrada of Norway.
Then Hardrada advanced his flag, called Land-Eyda, the "Ravager of the World," and, chaunting a war-stave, led his men to the onslaught. The battle was fierce, but short. The English troops were defeated, they fled into York; and the Ravager of the World was borne in triumph to the gates of the town.
Duke William lost no time in beginning his preparations for the invasion of England, and Tostig, after trying the Normans and the Scots, and filibustering along the coasts on his own account, succeeded in drawing to his side the famous Harold Hardrada, king of Norway. In the month of September the two reached the Humber, and Harold marched to meet them, resting neither day nor night.
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