Note 1007 — Chapter XIV · THE NORWEGIAN INVASION AND THE CAMPAIGN OF STAMFORDBRIDGE.[928]

The story is told in the Ramsey History, c. 120, by Æthelred of Rievaux, 404, in the Vita Haroldi, p. 188. The Ramsey writer does not mention Harold’s sickness; the vision comes “quum Haraldus, propter imparitatem forsitan copiæ militaris, obviare [Tostino] dissimularet.” The vision itself too is cut much shorter. Æthelred tells us of Harold’s sickness, but does not describe its nature. From his own biographer’s account it would seem to have been gout; “Tybies ubito unius [“tibia subitò cruris” or “tibia cruris unius”?] vehementissimo cœpit dolore constringi.”