Witan, or National Council of
England (S81), chose Harold. That settled the question, for the
Council alone had the right to decide who should rule over the English
people. Harold was soon afterward crowned (January 16, 1066).

68. Duke William prepares to invade England (1066).

William, Duke of Normandy, was getting ready for a hunting expedition
when the news was brought to him of Harold's accession (S67). The old
chronicler says that the Duke "stopped short in his preparations; he
spoke to no man, and no man dared speak to him." Finally he resolved
to appeal to the sword and take the English crown by force.

During the spring and summer of that year, he occupied himself in
fitting out a fleet to invade England, and his smiths and armorers
were busy making lances, swords, and coats of mail. The Pope favored
the expedition and presented a banner blessed by himself, to be
carried in the attack; "mothers, too, sent their sons for the
salvation of their souls."

69. The Expedition Sails (1066).

William sailed on his great expedition in the autumn with a fleet of
several hundred vesseles and a large number of transports. The Duke's
ship, with the consecrated banner at the masthead, led the fleet.

His army consisted of archers and cavalry. Its strength has been
variously estimated at from 14,000 men up to 60,000. They were partly
his own subjects, and partly hired soldiers, or those who joined for
the sake of plunder. William also carried a large force of smiths and
carpenters, with timber ready cut and fitted to set up a wooden
castle.

70. William lands at Pevensey.

The next day the fleet anchored at Pevensey, on the south coast of
England, under the walls of an old Roman fortress which had stood, a
vacant ruin, since the Saxons stormed it nearly six hundred years
before. (See map facing p. 38.) Tradition says that as William
stepped on shore he stumbled and fell flat with his face downward.
"God preserve us!" cried one of his men; "this is a bad sign." But
the Duke, grasping the pebbles of the beach with both his outstretched
hands, exclaimed, "Thus do I seize the land!"

71. King Harold in the North.

There was, in fact, no power to prevent him from establishing his
camp, for King Harold (S67) was in the north quelling an invasion
headed by the King of the Norwegians and his brother Tostig, who hoped
to secure the throne for himself. Harold had just sat down to a
victory feast, after the b