Duke William

William answered that, had he only ten thousand men, such as those of whom he had sixty thousand, he would not draw back; he would not cross the sea again without avenging himself of his enemy. He would not even keep himself within his entrenchments; whatever were the numbers on either side, he would go forth and meet Harold face to face. He deigned to thank Robert for the kindly interest which he took in his welfare, but he hinted that the words in which he had contrasted Norman and English prowess would better have been spared. The Duke had no need of such counsels as those which were pressed upon him by his cousin's favourite. He had come into England to win his Crown, and his Crown he would win at all hazards.