arms
were to the sight like glancing ice.

91. OF EARL TOSTE'S COUNSEL.

Then said King Harald, "Let us now fall upon some good sensible counsel;
for it is not to be concealed that this is an hostile army and the king
himself without doubt is here."

Then said the earl, "The first counsel is to turn about as fast as we
can to our ships to get our men and our weapons, and then we will make a
defence according to our ability; or otherwise let our ships defend us,
for there these horsemen have no power over us."

Then King Harald said, "I have another counsel. Put three of our best
horses under three of our briskest lads and let them ride with all speed
to tell our people to come quickly to our relief. The Englishmen shall
have a hard fray of it before we give ourselves up for lost."

The earl said the king must order in this, as in all things, as he
thought best; adding, at the same time, it was by no means his wish to
fly. Then King Harald ordered his banner Land-ravager to be set up; and
Frirek was the name of him who bore the banner.

92. OF KING HARALD'S ARMY.

Then King Harald arranged his army, and made the line of battle long,
but not deep. He bent both wings of it back, so that they met together;
and formed a wide ring equally thick all round, shield to shield, both
in the front and rear ranks. The king himself and his retinue were
within the circle; and there was the banner, and a body of chosen men.
Earl Toste, with his retinue, was at another place, and had a different
banner. The army was arranged in this way, because the king knew that
horsemen were accustomed to ride forwards with great vigour, but to
turn back immediately. Now the king ordered that his own and the earl's
attendants should ride forwards where it was most required. "And our
bowmen," said he, "shall be near to us; and they who stand in the
first rank shall set the spear-shaft on the ground, and the spear-point
against the horseman's breast, if he rides at them; and those who
stand in the second rank shall set the spear-point against the horse's
breast."

93. OF KING HARALD GODWINSON.

King Harald Godwinson had come with an immense army, both of cavalry and
infantry. Now King Harald Sigurdson rode around his array, to see
how every part was drawn up. He was upon a black horse, and the horse
stumbled under him, so that the king fell off. He got up in haste and
said, "A fall is lucky for a traveller."

The English