human
What? exclaimed the missionary, in reply to Ned's questioning.
gpt
Will the Saxons fight? Indeed they will, and King Harold himself is to lead his army. I am told that his brother Gyrth--the brave man that he is!--asked permission to lead this battle himself, and urged the king to stay out of it. He said that then Harold would have time to gather more troops. Gyrth might be defeated and killed, but the kingdom would not be lost all at once. What is more, Harold might lay waste all the lands nearest the Normans and starve them out, fighting them inch by inch. He is an unselfish patriot, to offer his life in that way.
human
What did the king say?
gpt
As thou mightest expect, I think, replied Father Brian.
human
He declared that he would waste no English land nor burn an English house. He would allow no other man to fight and die in his place. He would lead his own army, he said, and he is right about that.
gpt
No, he isn't, said Ned.
human
He had better take Gyrth's advice. He is risking too much upon one battle. He hath not men enough here to beat the Normans.
gpt
King Harold knoweth best, said Father Brian.
human
His men would not fight as well under anybody else. His absence might dishearten them. Now, I tell thee: they say that the Norman duke hath sixty thousand men, but that the most of them are of all sorts, taken as they came. Harold of England hath only a quarter as many, indeed, but the main body of them consists of picked and chosen warriors, well-disciplined veterans. There is a great strength in that.
gpt
Thou meanest, said Ned,
human
He knoweth them, I suppose, said Father Brian.
gpt
It maketh him slow and cautious. The thingmen will all die where they stand, and I think that many other men will die when they do. It is a pity that they were at the north and not here when the fleet of William came to Pevensey. Had they been at hand, the Normans would not have gotten ashore at all. Harold would have slaughtered them at the water's edge.
human
All of that is Tostig's work, said Ned, angrily.
gpt
He stirred up Hardrada to come with his Vikings, just at the worst time.
human
He hath paid for it with his life, replied Father Brian,