512 SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GEE AT VIKINGS. 



Harald fell, 1 two nights before Mikjalsmessa (Michaelmas) 

 (Fornmanna Sogur, cc. 115-119). 



Here is a short account of the battle of Hastings, 

 the Conqueror is called Vilhjalm Jarl. 



William 



" Vilhjalm (William) bastard, jarl of Kouen, heard of the 

 death of Jatvard (Edward) his kinsman, and that Harald, son 

 of Godwin, had been made King of England, and been con- 

 secrated. He thought he had more right to the kingdom of 

 England than Harald, on account of his relationship to Edward, 

 and he also wanted to pay Harald for the disgrace of having 

 broken his betrothal with his (Vilhjalm's) daughter. W T illiam 

 gathered a host in Normandy (Northmandi), with very many 

 men and ships. When he rode from the town to his ships, 

 and had mounted his horse, his wife went to him and wanted 

 to speak to him ; he struck at her with his heel and thrust 

 the spur deeply into her breast, and she fell dead, and then 

 he rode on to his ship, and went with his host to England. 

 Bishop Otto, his brother, was with him. When the jarl 

 reached England he plundered and subdued the land wherever 

 he went. 



" He was taller and stronger than 'others, and a good rider ; 

 a very great warrior, but rather cruel ; very wise, but, it was said, 

 not trustworthy. Harald, son of Godwin, allowed Olaf, the son of 

 Harald Sigurdsson, and those there with him who had survived 

 the battle, to go, and King Harald then turned southward with 

 his host to England, for he had heard that William the 

 Bastard was in the south of England subduing the land. 

 There were with Harald his brothers, Svein, Gyrd, and Val- 

 thjof. Harald and William met in the south of England at 

 Helsingjaport (port of Hastings) ; there was a great battle, 

 where fell Harald and Gyrd his brother, with a great part of 

 their men. That was nineteen nights after the fall of Harald 

 Sigurdsson. Valthjof, Harald's brother, escaped by flight, 

 and late in the evening met a detachment of William's men, 

 who when they saw the Valthjof men fled into an oak forest ; 

 they were one hundred men. Valthjof set the forest on fire, 

 and burnt it up altogether. 



" William had had himself proclaimed King of England. 

 He sent word to Valthjof that they should be reconciled, and 

 gave him truce to meet him. The jarl went with few men ; 



1 "One winter after the fall of King 

 Harald (Hardradi) his body was brought 

 from England north to Nidar<5s (Thrond- 



hjem) and buried in Maria Church, which 

 he had built " (Harald Hardradi's Saga, 

 c. 104). 



