The Battle of Stamford Bridge
It was said by the Saxons that Harold Hardrada was stronger and bigger than any man living. As soon as he and Tostig landed with their army in the north of England, they routed the first English who came to fight them. When Harold of England heard this he set out for the north, hurrying his grumbling soldiers along at a speed to which they were quite unaccustomed.
King Harold and his men were only a day’s march from York when the invaders took the city by storm. That night the Northmen returned to their ships to sleep, and in the morning they rode gaily back to York, not knowing that danger was near.
It happened that the day was very hot; those soldiers who were with Harold Hardrada and Tostig had not put on their coats of mail, and many of the Northmen had stayed behind at the ships. As Harold Hardrada was riding through York he suddenly saw a cloud of dust in the distance, and presently under the dust he saw the shields and arms shining like ice. The Saxon army of England had arrived.
Tostig, too, had seen the advancing Saxons, and now he rode swiftly up to Harold Hardrada.
“We have two alternatives,” he said. “We can either go back to our ships and get the rest of the men, or go back to the ships and fight from there.”
But Harold Hardrada shook his head.
“There is a third alternative, and that is the one we shall take,” said he. “We shall stay here and fight and send messengers to bring the rest of the men. No one shall say I turned my back on the enemy.”
So saying, Harold Hardrada mounted his black horse and ordered his men to form a shield wall to meet the English onslaught.
It was not the English plan to make an immediate attack. Instead Harold picked twenty of his best men and rode with them to within speaking distance of the Northmen, who had drawn up their ranks beside the River Derwent.
King Harold and the twenty Saxons had covered their faces with their helmets and headguards, so that when they halted only Tostig recognized his brother the King,
King Harold and his men were only a day’s march from York when the invaders took the city by storm. That night the Northmen returned to their ships to sleep, and in the morning they rode gaily back to York, not knowing that danger was near.
It happened that the day was very hot; those soldiers who were with Harold Hardrada and Tostig had not put on their coats of mail, and many of the Northmen had stayed behind at the ships. As Harold Hardrada was riding through York he suddenly saw a cloud of dust in the distance, and presently under the dust he saw the shields and arms shining like ice. The Saxon army of England had arrived.
Tostig, too, had seen the advancing Saxons, and now he rode swiftly up to Harold Hardrada.
“We have two alternatives,” he said. “We can either go back to our ships and get the rest of the men, or go back to the ships and fight from there.”
But Harold Hardrada shook his head.
“There is a third alternative, and that is the one we shall take,” said he. “We shall stay here and fight and send messengers to bring the rest of the men. No one shall say I turned my back on the enemy.”
So saying, Harold Hardrada mounted his black horse and ordered his men to form a shield wall to meet the English onslaught.
It was not the English plan to make an immediate attack. Instead Harold picked twenty of his best men and rode with them to within speaking distance of the Northmen, who had drawn up their ranks beside the River Derwent.
King Harold and the twenty Saxons had covered their faces with their helmets and headguards, so that when they halted only Tostig recognized his brother the King,