HAROLD.

253

to swear , and that upon the holy reliqucs , to c h a p.support the pretensions of the duke of Normandy, 111.it were better that the command of the armyshould be entrusted to another, who, not beingbound by those sacred tics, might give thesoldiers more assured hopes of a prosperous issueto the combat.

H a R o L l> was deaf to all these remonstrances :

Elated with his past prosperity, as well as stimulatedby his native courage, he resolved to give battlein person ; and for that purpose , he drew nearto the Normans , who had removed their campand fleet to Hastings , where they fixed theirquarters. He was so confident of success, that hesent a message to the duke, promising him a sumof money , if he would depart the kingdomwithout effusion of blood : But his offer wasrejected with disdain ; and William , not to bebehind with his enemy in vaunting , sent him amessage by some monks, requiring him eitherto resign the kingdom , or to hold it of him infealty , or to submit their cause to the arbitrationof the pope , or to fight him in single combat.

Harold replied , that the God of battles wouldsoon be the arbiter of all their differences es .

THt English and Normans now prepared them-nth Oc-selves for this important decision ; but the aspect tober 'of things, on the night before the battle, wasvery different in the two camps. The Englishspent the time in riot, and jollity, and disorder j

Higden, p. 28 6 .