ing up the Humber, disembarked their troops, and defeated Harold's brother-in-law, who had ventured to give them battle.
On the news of the defeat reaching Harold, he hastened with an army to the protection of his people, and, on September 25th, fought the battle of Stamford bridge. The victory was decisive for Harold, and ended in the entire overthrow of the Norwegians, together with the death of Halfager and Tosti ; but he had scarcely time to rejoice for this signal victory, when he heard of the landing of the Duke of Normandy in Sussex.
William had been long detained in the Dive by contrary winds, when,just as the dissatisfaction of his troops was manifest, the wind became favourable and enabled them to sail along the coast till they reached St. Valeri ; here again the wind proved contrary, and the army began to imagine that heaven was against them, notwithstanding they had the sacred banner and the pope's benediction. The boldest of them that despised real danger, were very subject to the fear of imaginary ones ; many of them began to mutiny, and others to desert, when William, in order to support the drooping spirits of his army, ordered the reliques of St. Valeri to be borne in procession, and prayers offered up for more favourable weather : the wind suddenly changed, the army was embarked with the greatest alacrity, and the fleet sailed for England, arriving without any material loss at Pevensey ; William, undisturbed, disembarked his army, and refreshed them before the removal of his camp and fleet to Hastings, where he fixed his quarters. The spirit of the troops was now quite the reverse of what it had been when at St. Valeri. They were by no means discouraged at the news of Harold's victory over Halfager and Tosti, but seemed only anxious for the arrival of their foe.
