Earl Toste turned away then and went to Norway, where he presented
himself to King Harald, who was at that time in Viken. When they met the
earl explained his errand to the king. He told him all his proceedings
since he left England, and asked his aid to recover his dominions in
England.
The king replied that the Northmen had no great desire for a campaign in
England, and to have English chiefs over them there. "People say," added
he, "that the English are not to be trusted."
The earl replied, "Is it true what I have heard people tell in England,
that thy relative, King Magnus, sent men to King Edward with the message
that King Magnus had right to England as well as to Denmark, and had got
that heritage after Hardacanute, in consequence of a regular agreement?"
The king replied, "How came it that he did not get it, if he had a right
to it?"
"Why," replied the earl, "hast thou not Denmark, as King Magnus, thy
predecessor, had it?"
The king replies, "The Danes have nothing to brag of over us Northmen;
for many a place have we laid in ashes to thy relations."
Then said the earl, "If thou wilt not tell me, I will tell thee. Magnus
subdued Denmark, because all the chiefs of the country helped him;
and thou hast not done it, because all the people of the country were
against thee. Therefore, also, King Magnus did not strive for England,
because all the nation would have Edward for king. Wilt thou take
England now? I will bring the matter so far that most of the principal
men in England shall be thy friends, and assist thee; for nothing is
wanting to place me at the side of my brother Harald but the king's
name. All men allow that there never was such a warrior in the northern
lands as thou art; and it appears to me extraordinary that thou hast
been fighting for fifteen years for Denmark, and wilt not take England
that lies open to thee."
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.