The victory of Stamford, though highly honourable to the English, proved in the end prejudicial to them in the approaching contest. Harold hastened immediately to London, which he appointed as the rendezvous of his army. He was here much strengthened by fresh troops ; but was also weakened by the desertion of his old soldiers, who, from fatigue and dissatisfaction at his refusing to share the Norwegian spoils among them, secretly withdrew from the army in disgust.
Harold lost but little time in appointing and ordering his troops, and with a stout heart conducted them into Sussex, and encamped within seven miles of the Normans, who thereupon leaving the hills of Hastings approached in sight of the English.
The spies sent by Harold to discover the state of the opposing host, gave fearful accounts of their numbers and discipline. His younger brother Gurth, upon this, advised him not to centre all upon a single battle, but rather wait for a more favourable opportunity, and to harass them by cutting off their supplies, and otherwise annoy them ; adding that, being in a strange country and composed of different nations, they would of themselves fall into disorder, whilst nothing would be more acceptable to William and his army, who were now in the highest spirits, than a battle ; and, that Harold's situation was one of such imminent danger, that it behoved him not to play his whole state at a cast ; but the king of England in his own country, beloved by his subjects, with an army increasing, and provided with every supply, the country would hasten to his support, sensible of the danger to which their property as well as liberty was exposed by these new invaders, which would render his army too strong for William to hope for any chance of success ; the enemy would languish for want of action ; the winter was approaching, when the chances of war -
