I am not sure if he was that shameful of the title. I read somewhere that his father made some statement that he was quite proud of having fathered the "strong ......." that a maid had given him.

Harold's yeoman were just rather fatigued by having to march up from around London to Stamford Bridge near York, defeating the Norsemen, and having to march back down to Sussex to fight William. I think it was all within a week or two (unbelievable, I know).