Hour by hour messengers rode into York bringing news of the progress of the
invaders; hour by hour the Northumbrian levies poured into the capital.
Much as he had disapproved of their previous carelessness and delay, Wulf
acknowledged that the two northern earls now bore themselves as men. They
saw to the defences of the town, mustered all the inhabitants capable of
bearing arms, arranged for the feeding and disposition of the levies, and
did all that was possible at so short a notice to get them to take the
field But he saw, too, that this raw militia was but little calculated to
stand before the assault of the Norsemen. There was no body of seasoned
troops like the housecarls to serve as a nucleus, and to bear the chief
brunt of the battle. All alike were raw, inexperienced, and badly armed,
save for the axe, which was the favourite weapon of the English.
The great fleet made no stay but sailed up the Humber, packing closely in
the river as it narrowed, till it seemed well-nigh covered from shore to
shore with the crowded ships. It passed the little village of Selby, and
cast anchor beside the left bank of the Ouse, near the village of Riccall,
but nine miles' march from York. Olaf, the king's son, the two earls of
Orkney, and the bishop of those islands remained on board to guard the
ships, for the Northumbrian fleet, which was far too small to encounter so
great an armament, had taken refuge up the Wharfe, and might descend and
attack the Norse vessels were they left unguarded.
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