Harold, the Last of the Saxon Kings Book XII: The Battle of Hastings

All within the palace of Westminster showed the confusion and dismay of the awful time; -- all, at least, save the council-chamber, in which Harold, who had arrived the night before, conferred with his thegns. It was evening: the courtyards and the halls were filled with armed men, and almost with every hour came rider and bode from the Sussex shores. In the corridors the Churchmen grouped and whispered, as they had whispered and grouped in the day of King Edward's death. Stigand passed among them, pale and thoughtful. The serge gowns came rustling round the archprelate for counsel or courage.

"Shall we go forth with the King's army? " asked a young monk, bolder than the rest, "to animate the host with prayer and hymn?"