A boat sets sail on a mission to France to inform Duke William of the crowning of Harold. Englishmen hostile to Harold more than likely carried out this secret mission. The man at the front of the boat is sounding the depth. The boat flies a pennant from the masthead. The man laying the anchor is of Norman descent as distinguished by the hairstyle. The man standing behind the mast might be identified as Ralph of Wader, Earl of Norfolk. Ralph had been outlawed by Harold for some unrecorded treason or other crime. He then evidently migrated to his mother’s country and joined himself to the Breton followers of William.