HAROLD.

25*

omen to his advantage, by calling aloud, that che had taken polfeUion of the country. And asoldier , running to a neighbouring cottage ,plucked some thatch, which, as if giving hunfeizine of the kingdom , he presented to his general.The joy and alacrity of William and his wholearmy was so great, that they were nowise discour-aged , even when they heard of Harold's greatvictory over the Norvegians: They seemed ratherto wait with impatience the arrival of the enemy.

The victory of Harold, though great antshonourable, had proved in the main prejudicialto his interests , and may be regarded as theimmediate cause of his ruin. He lost many ofhis bravest officers and soldiers in the action ; andhe disgusted the rest , by refusing to distributethe Norvegian spoils among them : A conductwhich was little agreeable to his usual generosityof temper ; but which his desire of sparing thepeople, in the war that impended over him fromthe duke of Normandy , had probably occasioned.He hastened by quick marches to reach this newinvader; but though he was reinforced at Londonand other places with fresh troops, he foundhimself also weakened by the desertion of hisold soldiers ; who from fatigue and discontentsecretly withdrew from their colours. His brother6urth, a man of bravery and conduct, beganto entertain apprehensions of the event ; andremonstrated with the king, that it would bebetter policy to prolong the war , at least , tospare his o\yn person in the action. He urged ty

HAP

III.