Wherein we haue to note, that whether it were for displeasure that the [Sidenote:  Wil.  Lamb. The pope fauored duke Williams enterprise.] pope had sometime conceiued for the wrong doone to the archbishop, or at the onlie sute of duke William, certeine it is that the pope, as then named Alexander the second, fauored this enterprise of the duke, and in token thereof sent him a white banner, which he willed him to set vp in the decke of the ship, wherein he himselfe should saile.  In deed (as writers report) the pope with his cardinals, and all the whole court of Rome had king Harold euer in great hatred and disdaine, [Sidenote:  Matth.  West.] because he had taken vpon him the crowne without their consent, or anie ecclesiasticall solemnitie or agreement of the bishops.  And although the pope and his brethren the said cardinals dissembled the matter for the time, yet now beholding to what end his bold presumption was like to come, with frowning fortune they shewed themselues open aduersaries, inclining streightwaies to the stronger part, after the manner of couetous persons, or rather of the reed shaken with a sudden puffe of wind.

[Sidenote:  Gemeticensis.] Duke William at his first landing at Peuensey or Pemsey (whether you will) fortified a peece of ground with strong trenches, and leauing therein a competent number of men of warre to keepe the same, he sped him toward Hastings, and comming thither, he built an other fortresse there with all speed 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 neere 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 cheekes 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.