No oaths could bind these marauders, and the stern punishment he inflicted
was the means of procuring for the West of England a respite from their
incursions that lasted for three generations.
William of Normandy, on the contrary, was absolutely merciless in warfare.
He was not cruel for the sake of cruelty, but where he deemed that the
policy demanded it, he was ruthless, and spared neither age nor sex. He was
lavish to the church, but it was rather because he needed and obtained its
aid than from any feeling of real piety.
In point of ability, both civil and military, the Duke of Normandy and
Harold of England were perhaps about equal; in point of nobility of
character there was no comparison between them. We may be sure that the
night before the battle Harold prayed as earnestly as he had prayed at
Waltham for the aid of Heaven.
Wulf and Beorn lay down among the thanes, after Harold, sitting with them
round a fire, had explained his plans for the battle. So calmly and
confidently did he speak, and so strong was their position, that even those
who had, like Wulf, doubted the wisdom of an advance until the whole force
of England had assembled, now felt something like an assurance of victory,
and all lay down to sleep with the belief that the victory at Stamford
Bridge would be repeated.
On waking, Wulf visited his men. They were already astir, and he was
astounded at seeing among them the towering figure of Osgod.
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