68 
law of William, it was not unlikely he would ally himself 
with him against the brother who deserted, even if he did 
not scheme against him, in his utmost need. On Edward’s 
death, the plan, no doubt before agreed upon between them, 
was carried out by Tosti. William gives him ships, he turns 
Yiking, and harries the English coast. From thence he is 
said to go to Denmark, and finding no help there, is more 
successful with Harold Hardrada, king of Norway. He 
becomes “his man,” promises that many of the Northum- 
brians will join his standard, which promises were fulfilled. 
An expedition, on a much larger scale than had ever before 
been attempted, leaves the fiords of Norway to conquer 
England. England was to be to Norway what it was to 
Denmark in the time of Cnut ; two hundred ships, besides 
transports for provisions, in all making five hundred 
(Gaimar says four hundred and seventy), bear this mighty 
armament on its way. It would seem, from after events, 
that while Tosti and Harold of Norway were to land in the 
North, William was to act simultaneously with them in the 
South. The old men see visions, and the women dream 
dreams ; but not such old wives’ tales daunt Harold the 
Hardy ! 
At Orkney, he leaves wife and daughters; at Kdifland 
(Cleveland), he plunders ; Skardaborh (or Scarbro’), he 
pillages and burns ; and to proceed, in the words of Snorro 
(Laing’s Translation of the Saga of the Kings of Norway), 
brought up at Hollow-ness (Holderness), “thereafter the king 
sailed to the Humber, and up and along the river, and then 
he landed. Dp in Yorvick were two Jarls. King Harold 
lay in the Dsa : a battle was fought at Fulford ; the 
Norwegians were victorious. After the battle now told of, 
all the people in the nearest districts submitted to Harold, 
but some fled. A thing is held ; the people gave him 
hostages, the children of the most considerable persons of the 
