A.D. 1066.  This year came King Harold from York to Westminster,

on the Easter succeeding the midwinter when the king (Edward)

died.  Easter was then on the sixteenth day before the calends of

May.  Then was over all England such a token seen as no man ever

saw before.  Some men said that it was the comet-star, which

others denominate the long-hair'd star.  It appeared first on the

eve called "Litania major", that is, on the eighth before the

calends off May; and so shone all the week.  Soon after this came

in Earl Tostig from beyond sea into the Isle of Wight, with as

large a fleet as he could get; and he was there supplied with

money and provisions.  Thence he proceeded, and committed

outrages everywhere by the sea-coast where he could land, until

he came to Sandwich.  When it was told King Harold, who was in

London, that his brother Tostig was come to Sandwich, he gathered

so large a force, naval and military, as no king before collected

in this land; for it was credibly reported that Earl William from

Normandy, King Edward's cousin, would come hither and gain this

land; just as it afterwards happened.  When Tostig understood that

King Harold was on the way to Sandwich, he departed thence, and

took some of the boatmen with him, willing and unwilling, and

went north into the Humber with sixty skips; whence he plundered

in Lindsey, and there slew many good men.  When the Earls Edwin

and Morkar understood that, they came hither, and drove him from

the land.  And the boatmen forsook him.  Then he went to Scotland

with twelve smacks; and the king of the Scots entertained him,

and aided him with provisions; and he abode there all the summer.

There met him Harold, King of Norway, with three hundred ships.

And Tostig submitted to him, and became his man.  Then came

King Harold to Sandwich, where he awaited his fleet; for it

was long ere it could be collected: but when it was assembled, he

went into the Isle of Wight, and there lay all the summer and the

autumn.  There was also a land-force every where by the sea,

though it availed nought in the end.  It was now the nativity of

St. Mary, when the provisioning of the men began; and no man

could keep them there any longer.  They therefore had leave to go

home: and the king rode up, and the ships were driven to London;

but many perished ere they came thither.  When the ships were

come home, then came Harald, King of Norway, north into the Tine,

unawares, with a very great sea-force -- no small one; that might

be, with three hundred ships or more; and Earl Tostig came to him

with all those that he had got; just as they had before said: and

they both then went up with all the fleet along the Ouse toward

York.  When it was told King Harold in the south, after he

had come from the ships, that Harald, King of Norway, and Earl

Tostig were come up near York, then went he northward by day and

night, as soon as he could collect his army.  But, ere King

Harold could come thither, the Earls Edwin and Morkar had

gathered from their earldoms as great a force as they could get,

and fought with the enemy.  They made a great slaughter too;

but there was a good number of the English people slain, and

drowned, and put to flight: and the Northmen had possession of

the field of battle.  It was then told Harold, king of the

English, that this had thus happened.  And this fight was on the

eve of St. Matthew the apostle, which was Wednesday.  Then after

the fight went Harold, King of Norway, and Earl Tosty into York

with as many followers as they thought fit; and having procured

hostages and provisions from the city, they proceeded to their

ships, and proclaimed full friendship, on condition that all

would go southward with them, and gain this land.  In the midst

of this came Harold, king of the English, with all his army, on

the Sunday, to Tadcaster; where he collected his fleet.  Thence

he proceeded on Monday throughout York.  But Harald, King of

Norway, and Earl Tostig, with their forces, were gone from their

ships beyond York to Stamford bridge; for that it was given them

to understand, that hostages would be brought to them there from

all the shire.  Thither came Harold, king of the English,

unawares against them beyond the bridge; and they closed together

there, and continued long in the day fighting very severely.

There was slain Harald the Fair-hair'd, King of Norway, and Earl


Tostig, and a multitude of people with them, both of Normans and English.