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King Harald weighed carefully the earl's words； and perceived at once that there was truth in much of what he said； and he himself had also a great desire to acquire dominions。 Then King Harald and the earl talked long and frequently together； and at last he took the resolution to proceed in summer to England； and conquer the country。 King Harald sent a message…token through all Norway and ordered out a levy of one…half of all the men in Norway able to carry arms。 When this became generally known； there were many guesses about what might be the end of this expedition。 Some reckoned up King Harald's great achievements； and thought he was also the man who could accomplish this。 Others； again； said that England was difficult to attack； that it was very full of people； and the men…at…arms； who were called Thingmen； were so brave； that one of them was better than two of Harald's best men。 Then said Ulf the marshal：
〃I am still ready gold to gain； But truly it would be in vain； And the king's marshal in the hall Might leave his good post once for all； If two of us in any strife Must for one Thingman fly for life； My lovely Norse maid； in my youth We thought the opposite the truth。〃
Ulf the marshal died that spring （A。D。 1066）。 King Harald stood over his grave； and said； as he was leaving it； 〃There lies now the truest of men； and the most devoted to his king。〃
Earl Toste sailed in spring west to Flanders； to meet the people who had left England with him； and others besides who had gathered to him both out of England and Flanders。
83。 GYRD'S DREAMS。
King Harald's fleet assembled at the Solunds。 When King Harald was ready to leave Nidaros he went to King Olaf's shrine； unlocked it； clipped his hair and nails； and locked the shrine again； and threw the keys into the Nid。 Some say he threw them overboard outside of Agdanes； and since then the shrine of Saint Olaf； the king； has never been opened。 Thirty…five years had passed since he was slain； and he lived thirty…five years here on earth （A。D。 1080…1066）。 King Harald sailed with his ships he had about him to the south to meet his people； and a great fleet was collected； so that。 according to the people's reckoning； King Harald had nearly 200 ships beside provision…ships and small craft。
While they lay at the Solunds a man called Gyrd； on board the king's ship； had a dream。 He thought he was standing in the king's ship and saw a great witch…wife standing on the island； with a fork in one hand and a trough in the other。 He thought also that he saw over all the fleet； and that a fowl was sitting upon every ship's stern； and that these fowls were all ravens or ernes； and the witch…wife sang this song：
〃From the east I'll 'tice the king； To the west the king I'll bring； Many a noble bone will be Ravens o'er Giuke's ship are fitting； Eyeing the prey they think most fitting。 Upon the stem I'll sail with them！ Upon the stem I'll sail with them！〃
84。 THORD'S DREAM。
There was also a man called Thord； in a ship which lay not far from the king's。 He dreamt one night that he saw King Harald's fleet coming to land； and he knew the land to be England。 He saw a great battle…array on the land； and he thought both sides began to fight； and had many banners flapping in the air。 And before the army of the people of the country was riding a huge witch… wife upon a wolf； and the wolf had a man's carcass in his mouth； and the blood was dropping from his jaws； and when he had eaten up one body she threw another into his mouth； and so one after another； and he swallowed them all。 And she sang thus：
〃Skade's eagle eyes The king's ill luck espies： Though glancing shields Hide the green fields； The king's ill luck she spies。 To bode the doom of this great king； The flesh of bleeding men I fling To hairy jaw and hungry maw！ To hairy jaw and hungry maw！〃
85。 KING HARALD'S DREAM。
King Harald also dreamt one night that he was in Nidaros； and met his brother； King Olaf； who sang to him these verses：
〃In many a fight My name was bright； Men weep； and tell How Olaf fell。 Thy death is near； Thy corpse； I fear； The crow will feed； The witch…wife's steed。〃
Many other dreams and forebodings were then told of； and most of them gloomy。 Before King Harald left Throndhjem； he let his son Magnus be proclaimed king and set him as king over Norway while he was absent。 Thora； the daughter of Thorberg； also remained behind； but he took with him Queen Ellisif and her two daughters； Maria and Ingegerd。 Olaf； King Harald's son； also accompanied his father abroad。
86。 BATTLE AT SCARBOROUGH。
When King Harald was clear for sea； and the wind became favourable； he sailed out into the ocean； and he himself landed in Shetland； but a part of his fleet in the Orkney Islands。 King Harald stopped but a short time in Shetland before sailing to Orkney； from whence he took with him a great armed force； and the earls Paul and Erlend； the sons of Earl Thorfin； but he left behind him here the Queen Ellisif； and her daughters Maria and Ingegerd。 Then he sailed； leaving Scotland and England westward of him； and landed at a place called Klifland。 There he went on shore and plundered； and brought the country in subjection to him without opposition。 Then he brought up at Skardaburg； and fought with the people of the place。 He went up a hill which is there； and made a great pile upon it； which he set on fire； and when the pile was in clear flame； his men took large forks and pitched the burning wood down into the town； so that one house caught fire after the other； and the town surrendered。 The Northmen killed many people there and took all the booty they could lay hold of。 There was nothing left for the Englishmen now； if they would preserve their lives； but to submit to King Harald； and thus he subdued the country wherever he came。 Then the king proceeded south along the land； and brought up at Hellornes； where there came a force that had been assembled to oppose him； with which he had a battle； and gained the victory。
87。 OF HARALD'S ORDER OF BATTLE。
Thereafter the king sailed to the Humber； and up along the river； and then he landed。 Up in Jorvik were two earls； Earl Morukare； and his brother； Earl Valthiof； and they had an immense army。 While the army of the earls was coming down from the upper part of the country； King Harald lay in the Usa。 King Harald now went on the land； and drew up his men。 The one arm of this line stood at the outer edge of the river； the other turned up towards the land along a ditch； and there was also a morass； deep； broad； and full of water。 The earls let their army proceed slowly down along the river； with all their troops in line。 The king's banner was next the river； where the line was thickest。 It was thinnest at the ditch； where also the weakest of the men were。 When the earls advanced downwards along the ditch； the arm of the Northmen's line which was at the ditch gave way； and the Englishmen followed； thinking the Northmen would fly。 The banner of Earl Morukare advanced then bravely。
88。 THE BATTLE AT THE HUMBER。
When King Harald saw that the English array had come to the ditch against him； he ordered the charge to be sounded； and urged on his men。 He ordered the banner which was called the Land…ravager to be carried before him； and made so severe an assault that all had to give way before it； and there was a great loss among the men of the earls； and they soon broke into flight； some running up the river； some down； and the most leaping into the ditch； which was so filled with dead that the Norsemen could go dry…foot over the fen。 There Earl Morukare fell。 So says Stein Herdison：
〃The gallant Harald drove along； Flying but fighting； the whole throng。 At last； confused； they could not fight； And the whole body took to flight。 Up from the river's silent stream At once rose desperate splash and scream； But they who stood like men this fray Round Morukare's body lay。〃
This song was composed by Stein Herdison about Olaf； son of King Harald； and he speaks of Olaf being in this battle with King Harald； his father。 These things are also spoken of in the song called 〃Harald's Stave〃：
〃Earl Valthiof's men Lay in the fen； By sword down hewed； So thickly strewed； That Norsemen say They paved a way Across the fen For the brave Norsemen。〃
Earl Valthiof； and the people who escaped； fled up to the castle of York； and there the greatest loss of men had been。 This battle took place upon the Wednesday next Mathias' day （A。D。 1066）。
89。 OF EARL TOSTE。
Earl Toste had come from Flanders to King Harald as soon as he arrived in England； and the earl was present at all these battles。 It happened； as he had foretold the king at their first meeting； that in England many people would flock to them； as being friends and relations of Earl Toste； and thus the king's forces were much strengthened。 After the battle now told of； all people in the nearest districts submitted to