Duke William, seated and holding a banner receives news from the messenger ‘Robert the Staller’ regarding Harold’s whereabouts. Robert Fitz Wimarc was an English landholder (responsible for building a castle at Clavering in Essex) of Norman birth, and brother of William’s steward, William fitz Osbern. Robert had served under both Edward the Confessor and King Harold. Robert also appears in scene 42 at the head of Edward’s death bed. He carried the message to William that his prospects of defeating Harold were small and it might be better that he return to Normandy, otherwise he and his army would meet with certain destruction.