At nine in the morning the vanguard of the Norman army appeared over the
brow of a rise, and the English at once took up their positions. In the
centre were the housecarls of the royal house and those of the thanes,
together with the men of Kent, whose right it was ever to be in the front
of a battle, and the London citizens under their sheriff. All these were
armed and attired like the housecarls. In the centre of this array flew the
royal standard, and around it were the three royal brothers, Aelfwig their
uncle, with his monk's cowl over his helmet, and their nephew, Hakon, the
son of Sweyn. The housecarls were in a triple line. To the left and right
of them were the levies, as brave as their more heavily armed comrades, but
altogether without discipline, and armed in the most primitive manner. A
few only carried swords or axes, the majority had spears or javelins. Many
had only forks or sharp stakes, while some carried stone hammers and axes,
such as were used by their primitive ancestors.
As the Norman army wound down from the opposite hill and formed up in the
order of battle, Harold rode along in front of his line exhorting all to
stand firm.
"They were there," he said, "to defend their country, and to defend their
country they had but to hold the hill. Were they steadfast and firm they
could assuredly resist the attack of this host who came to capture and
plunder England."
The order in which the Normans prepared for battle was similar to that of
the English.
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