About noon
These Normans , who hated the Saxon nation , and had done so much to dishonour and oppress them , were now following them , they supposed , to the foreign capital where they had found refuge , with the purpose of making war on the bountiful prince who protected their sad remnant . Under this belief , many a deep oath was sworn in Norse and Anglo-Saxon , that their keen battle-axes should avenge the slaughter of Hastings , and many a pledge , both in wine and ale , was quaffed who should most deeply resent , and most effectually revenge , the wrongs which the Anglo-Saxons of England had received at the hand of their oppressors . Hereward , the author of this intelligence , began soon to be sorry that he had ever suffered it to escape him , so closely was he cross-examined concerning its precise import , by the enquiries of his comrades , from whom he thought himself obliged to keep concealed the adventures of the preceding evening , and the place in which he had gained his information . About noon , when he was effectually tired with returning the same answer to the same questions , and evading similar others which were repeatedly put to him , the sound of trumpets announced the presence of the Acolyte , Achilles Tatius , who came immediately , it was industriously whispered , from the sacred Interior , with news of the immediate approach of war . The Varangians , and the Roman bands called Immortal , it was said , were to form a camp under the city , in order to be prompt to defend it at the shortest notice . This put the whole barracks into commotion , each man making the necessary provision for the approaching campaign . The noise was chiefly that of joyful bustle and acclamation ; and it was so general , that Hereward , whose rank permitted him to commit to a page or esquire the task of preparing his equipments , took the opportunity to leave the barracks , in order to seek some distant place apart from his comrades , and enjoy his solitary reflections upon the singular connexion into which he had been drawn , and his direct communication with the Imperial family .