duke William, and at length with much adoo, got leaue: but yet he was
told aforehand of the king, that he would repent his iournie, and
[Sidenote: _Mat. West._ _Wil. Malm._]
doo the thing that should be preiudiciall to the realme. Other write
that Harold lieng at his manor of Bosham, went aboord one day into his
fishers boat or craier, and caused the same to lanch forth to the sea
for his pleasure: but by misfortune at the same time, a contrarie wind
suddenlie came about, and droue the vessell on land into France vpon
the coast of Ponthieu, where he was taken by the countrie people, &
presented to the earle of Ponthieu named Guie or Guido, who kept him
as prisoner, meaning to put him to a grieuous ransome. But Harold
remembring himselfe of a wile, dispatched a messenger forth with all
spéed vnto William, duke of Normandie, signifieng vnto him, that he
being sent from king Edward to confirme such articles, as other meane
men that had béene sent vnto him afore had talked of, by chance he was
fallen into the hands of the earle of Ponthieu, and kept as prisoner
against all order of law, reason, or humanitie. Duke William thus
informed by the messenger, sent to the earle of Ponthieu, requiring
him to set earle Harold at libertie, that he might repaire to him
according to his commission. The earle of Ponthieu at the dukes
[Sidenote: Harold is presented to William duke of Normandie.]
request, did not onelie restore Harold to his libertie, but also
brought him into Normandie, and presented him there to the duke, of
whome he was most ioifullie receiued.

[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
There be that agrée partlie with this report, and partlie varie:
for they write, that earle Harold tooke the sea vpon purpose to haue
sailed into Flanders, and that by force of wind he was driuen to the
coast of Ponthieu, and so after came into Normandie in maner as before