Bayeux Tapestry Dear Family,

I know that the last two years have seemed arduous and that you all have missed me terribly, as I have missed all of you. It has not been easy trying to prevent injustice and to right a horrendous wrong. Usurper Harold has been in control of the English army and he is the most dangerous foe that has ever existed, I believe. It is truly mindboggling that Harold believes himself the rightful king when my claim is so strong and his so very weak. King Edward's mother was my own great-aunt after all. Harold can only state that Edward, Edward the Confessor, was his brother-in-law. He is connected by marriage! The right he has not as strong than that the woman who connects the man to our belated king. I am linked to the throne through blood which is something Harold can never claim. He has absolutely no biological claim to the throne (People 2004). Let him come at me and my devoted soldiers. We are on the side of right and I assert that the ambition of myself and my men will prevail. We travel forth on our journey towards Hastings. It has thus far been a rather tiring trek as we have had little sleep and provisions are already running low even though we have not yet begun battle.

I, William, Duke of Normandy will be victorious. I have yet to...

The gall of the man; it is widely understood that Harold was to come to tell me that I was to be the next king of England. Indeed he was sent to Normandy expressly "to confirm with an oath his previous pledge to make [me] his successor" (Brunettie 2011,-page 178). You know me well enough my dears to know that I would never have put myself over my countrymen. Edward may have made Harold the next ruler on his deathbed, but surely he was consumed by fever of his illness (People 2004). Far too often it is a burden knowing what is right for men when they themselves refuse to see it. How sad that Harold will not set aside his own vainglorious desires for power to do what is best for England and for God.
Thus far the men with Harold have made a disconcerting level of progress and I am highly concerned about the amount of success they have had. In the interactions that we have thus far had, I have seen brave men fight and die. Other men have fled out of fear and desperation, either on foot or on horseback. War is the true tester of men's characters I believe. Those that claim to be fearless are often the first to tremble and run whereas those who claim to have great fear tend to be the ones who continue into the fray until the very last. The men carry with them swords for the most part although there are also highly trained archers and those with other weaponry, primarily clubs and other blunt instruments. It would be best for us all if…