Channel patrols and mobilization before the Norman invasion

William's invasion appears as a long-prepared expansion rather than a sudden raid, supported by months of preparation and propaganda. Harold must cover threats from both Normandy and Norway, so England's limited naval strength patrols between Dover and the Isle of Wight through the summer. The fyrd supplies the army's main mass at a rate of one man for every six hundred acres, but its two-month service obligation makes prolonged readiness difficult. Thegns rank above ordinary freemen and below the aristocracy, owing military service directly to the king. The English army fights on foot with spears, javelins, swords, and large Danish axes, while wealthier men wear helmets and mail. Professional housecarls provide the household military core, with the discussion dividing them between archers and large axemen. Naval warning and the limits of seasonal service shape England's response before Hastings.