With his hands raised aloft, as a
sign that his mission was a peaceful one, an English thane with twenty
mounted horsemen rode across the bridge. He was met by the king, Tostig,
and his chiefs. Raising his voice the thane addressed Tostig, "I bring to
Tostig the greeting and message of his brother King Harold. Let him return
to his allegiance and he shall again have the earldom of Northumberland;
nay, he shall have a third of the kingdom to rule together with the king."
"What, then," Tostig asked, "shall be given to King Harold of Norway?"
"Seven feet of English ground!" the thane said sternly, "or more,
perchance, seeing he is taller than other men."
"Return to King Harold of England," Tostig said, "and bid him make ready
for the battle. Never shall men say in Norway that I brought their king
hither to England and then went over to his foes."
Harold's ambassador returned with his men across the river with Tostig's
message, and then in solid array the English Thingmen moved forward to the
attack. Had the King of Norway advanced to the end of the bridge a battle
would have been impossible, for the English could never have forced their
way across. But the kings were equally anxious for a battle. Harold of
Norway knew as well as the King of England that the host of Normandy was on
the point of sailing, and it was as essential for him to crush the English
army before the Normans landed as it was for Harold of England to dispose
at once of the Norse invaders.
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