part, after the manner of couetous persons, or rather of the réed
shaken with a sudden puffe of wind.

[Sidenote: _Gemeticensis_.]
Duke William at his first landing at Peuensey or Pemsey (whether
you will) fortified a péece of ground with strong trenches, and
leauing therein a competent number of men of warre to kéepe the same,
he sped him toward Hastings, and comming thither, he built an other
fortresse there with all spéed possible, without suffering his
souldiers to rob or harrie the countrie adioining, saieng that it
should be great follie for him to spoile that people, which yer
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._]
manie daies to come were like to be his subiects. K. Harold being as
yet in the north parts, and hearing that duke William was thus landed
in England, sped him southward, and gathering his people togither
out of the countries as he went forwards, at length came néere his
enimies: and sending espials into their campe to vnderstand of what
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
strength they were; the vnskilfull messengers regarding smallie
their charge, brought woord againe of nothing else, but that all
[Sidenote: Normans berds shauen. _Wil. Malm._ _Hen. Marle._]
duke Williams souldiers were priests. For the Normans had at that time
their vpper lips and chéekes shauen, whereas the Englishmen vsed to
suffer the haire of their vpper lips to grow at length. But Harold
answered, that they were not priests, but wether-beaten and hardie
souldiers, and such as were like to abide well by their capteine.

[Sidenote: Girth would not haue his brother king Harold fight himselfe.
_Gemeticensis_.]
In the meane season, Girth one of Harolds yoonger brethren