SIWARD THE DANE:--His appearance--The mystic banner--Siward's reception by Hardicanute--Tostig's raillery and its punishment--Battle between Eadulph, Earl of Northumberland, and Siward--Siward is sent by Edward the Confessor to defend the Northumbrian coast--Death of Siward
HAROLD, THE SAXON KING:--Harold's personal appearance--Harold's first appearance in national affairs--His great military reputation--Harold proposes to visit Normandy--King Edward tries to dissuade him--He sets out--His cordial reception by Duke William--Harold accompanies William in a war against the Bretons--William extorts a promise from Harold to aid him in obtaining the English crown--Death of Edward the Confessor
DUKE WILLIAM AND HIS DIFFICULTIES:--William has news of Harold's accession to the English throne--Harold is summoned by the Court of Rome to defend himself on the charges of perjury and sacrilege--He refuses to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the See of Rome--William is ordered by the Pope to invade England--He prepares to set out--William Fitzosborne overrules the objections of the Norman nobles.
TOSTIG, SON OF GODWIN:--Tostig is made Earl of Northumberland--His cruelty--The Northumbrians force him to flee--Harold is sent against the insurgents--Tostig is deposed--His anger is turned against Harold--The massacre of Hereford--Tostig repairs to Flanders--Obtains aid from William of Normandy--Tostig's unfavourable reception by Sweyn, King of Denmark
HAROLD HARDRADA:--His personal appearance--Harold at the battle of Stiklestad is wounded--Harold with his companions goes to Constantinople and takes service as a varing--The varings--Goes to Africa and Sicily, and makes an armed pilgrimage to Jerusalem--Drives out the Moslems--Returns to Constantinople--Is enamoured of Maria, niece of the Empress Zoe--The Empress in love with Harold--Magnus, the illegitimate son of Olaf, usurps the throne of Norway--Harold, wishing to assert his superior claim, is detained in Constantinople by the Empress--Is delivered by a Greek lady--Rouses his companions, carries off Maria, and sets sail for Denmark--Hardrada shares the throne with Magnus--Death of Magnus--Tostig applies to Hardrada for assistance against Harold, King of England--Tostig makes a descent on England--Hardrada sails for England--The apprehensions of the Norwegians