"Not yet is it the hour of need. When it comes, our people will the
more readily meet it with their gold as with their iron. There was
great wealth in the House of Godwin; that wealth mans the ships of
England. What hast thou there, Haco?"

"Thy new-issued coin: it hath on its reverse the word PEACE." [233]

Who ever saw one of those coins of the Last Saxon King, the bold
simple head on the one side, that single word "Peace" on the other,
and did not feel awed and touched! What pathos in that word compared
with the fate which it failed to propitiate!

"Peace," said Harold: "to all that doth not render peace, slavery.
Yea, may I live to leave peace to our children! Now, peace only rests
on our preparation for war. You, Morcar, will return with all speed
to York, and look well to the mouth of the Humber."

Then, turning to each of the thegns successively he gave to each his
post and his duty; and that done, converse grew more general. The
many things needful that had been long rotting in neglect under the
Monk-king, and now sprung up, craving instant reform, occupied them
long and anxiously. But cheered and inspirited by the vigour and
foresight of Harold, whose earlier slowness of character seemed winged
by the occasion into rapid decision (as is not uncommon with the
Englishman), all difficulties seemed light, and hope and courage were
in every breast.