Anglo-Saxon Chronicle D recension (Gomme)

And the while came earl Tostig into the Humber with sixty ships ; and earl Edwin came with a land-fyrd and drove him out. And the butse-carls forsook him, and he fared to Scotland with twelve small vessels. And there met him Harold king of Norway with three hundred ships, and Tostig submitted to him and be came his man. And then they fared both into the Humber until they came to York; and there earl Edwin and earl Morcar fought against them, but the Northmen got the victory. Then was it made known to Harold king of the English that thus it had fared with them : and this battle was on the vigil of St. Matthew (Sept. 20th). Then came Harold our king unawares on the Northmen and fell in with them beyond York at Stamford bridge with a great host of English folk ; and there during the day was very severe fight ing on both sides. There was slain Harold Harfagr and earl Tostig, and the Northmen who were there remaining were put to flight; and the English from behind hotly smote them until of them all some got to their ships, some were drowned and some also burnt : and thus in divers ways they perished so that few were left : and the English had possession of the place of slaughter. The king gave his protection to Olaf, son of the king of the Northmen, and to their bishop and to the earl of Orkney and to all those who were left in the ships ; and then they went ashore to our king and swore oaths that ever they would hold peace and friendship towards this land ; and the king let them go home with twenty-four ships. These two folk-fights were fought within five nights. Then came William earl of Normandy into Pevensey on the eve of St. Michael's mass (Sept. 28th) ; and directly they were ready, they erected a castle at Hastings-port. This was made known to king Harold, and he gathered a great host and came to meet him at the hoar apple-tree ; and William came against him unawares before his folk were collected. But the king nevertheless strenuously fought against him with those men who would follow him ; and there was great slaughter made on each side. There was slain king Harold and earl Leofwin and earl Gyrth his brother and many good men ; and the Frenchmen had pos session of the place of slaughter—all as God granted to them for the folk's sins. Archbishop Ealdred and the townsmen in London would then have Edgar child for king—all as was his true natural right ; and Edwin and Morcar promised him that they would fight with him. But ever as it should have been forwarder, so was it from day to day slacker and worse—all as it turned out in the end. This fight was done on. the day of pope Calixtus. And earl William went back again to Hastings and there awaited whether people would submit to him.