John of Worcester

1066 – King Edward, after ruling England for twenty-three years, died at
London on the eve of the Epiphany. He was buried the next day, amidst tears
from all who were there. After King Edward was buried, the chief men of all
England chose as king, Harold, son of Earl Godwin, whom King Edward had
chosen before his death as his successor. He was crowned on the same day
by Aldred, Archbishop of York. King Harold made good laws, helped churches
and monasteries and ordered the arrest of all thieves and robbers. In that year,
on 24 April, a comet was seen in the sky, blazing brightly for seven days.

During the summer, King Harold went to the Isle of Wight with his navy
because William, Duke of the Normans (a cousin of King Edward) was
preparing to invade England with an army. Harold watched all summer and
autumn for his arrival, placing his army at strategic places around the coast.
However, towards the nativity of St Mary, because food was running out, both
the navy and army returned home.

After this, Harald Fairhair, King of the Norwegians landed unexpectedly at the
mouth of the River Tyne with an extremely strong fleet, more than 500 great
ships. Earl Tostig, King Harold’s brother, joined him and they sailed to the River
 Humber and up the River Ouse, landing at a place called Riccall. When King
Harold heard this, he speedily marched north but before the King arrived, Earls
Edwin and Morcar, with a great army, fought the Norwegians on the north bank of
the River Ouse near York, on Wednesday the eve of St Matthew the Apostle’s day.
The English fought bravely but could not withstand the attacks of the Norwegians
and fled after suffering many casualties. The Norwegians were victorious.

But five days later, on Monday 25 September, King Harold, with many thousands
of well-armed soldiers, marched to York and fought the Norwegians at a place
called Stamford Bridge. He killed Harald Fairhair and Tostig and the greater part of
their army and gained total victory.

King Harold thought his enemies had been defeated but then he was told that
Duke William had landed his fleet at a place called Pevensey with a huge number
of mounted soldiers, archers and foot soldiers. Immediately King Harold marched
his army to London in great haste. He knew that many of the bravest Englishmen
had fallen in the two battles in the north and that half his army had not had time to
assemble, yet he was not afraid to march against his enemy as quickly as he
could. On Saturday 22 October, before a third of his army were ready, he joined
battle with the Normans nine miles from Hastings, where he had built a castle.

But because the English were lined up in a narrow place many slipped away from
the battlefield and very few remained true to the King. However, from the third hour
of daylight until dusk he fought most bravely. But, when very many had died on
both sides, King Harold himself was killed, alas. Earls Gyrth and Leofwine, his
brothers, and most of the noblemen of England were also killed.

Then Duke William returned to Hastings. King Harold had reigned nine months and
as many days.

ACTIVITY
1 Read paragraphs 1 and 2.
a) John wanted to show that Harold was the rightful king. What two pieces of
information did he include to show this?
b) What did John say to show that Harold was a good king?

2 Read paragraphs 3 and 4.

a) How strong was the Norwegian army? Choose at least two details.
b) What impression of King Harold of England do you get from paragraphs 3
and 4?
c) John wrote as much about the Norwegian invasions as he did about William’s
invasion. Why do you think he wrote so much about the Norwegians?

3 Why do you think John did not write anything about William’s preparations for
invading England?

4 Read paragraphs 5 and 6. What reasons does John give to explain why the
Normans won at Hastings?

5 John got the date of the Battle of Hastings wrong.

a) What was the real date?
b) Why do you think he made this mistake about such an important event?

6 Think about what John wrote. Choose two words to describe how he felt about
1066. Which parts of his history would you choose to support your answer?