Flanders. His estates, which were numerous, together with those of his sons, were confiscated,. and the greatness of the family seemed for a time totally overthrown.

But this nobleman's power was too strong to be: shaken by so slight a blast; for being assisted with a fleet by the earl of Flanders, he landed on the Isle of Wight, where he was joined by his son Harold, with a squadron which that nobleman had collected in Ireland. From thence being reinforced by great numbers of his former dependants and followers, he sailed up the Thames, and, appearing before London, threw all things into confusion. In this exigence, the king alone seemed resolute but his nobility, many of whom were secretly inclined to Godwin, brought on a negociation; in which it was stipulated, that the king should dismiss all his foreign servants, the primate being among the number, and that Godwin should give hostages for his own future good behaviour. God-. win's death, which followed soon after, prevented. him from reaping the fruits of an agreement, by which the king's authority was almost reduced to nothing.

This nobleman was succeeded in his government and offices by his son Harold, who, in his ambition, was equal to his father, but in his virtues. and abilities far his superior. By a modest and gentle demeanor he acquired the good-will of Edward, or at least softened those impressions of hatred which he had long borne the whole family.. He artfully insinuated himself into the affections of the people by his liberality and apparent candour, while every day he encreased his power, by seeming modestly to decline it. By these arts he not only supplanted Algar, duke of Mercia, whom the king raised up to rival his power, but he got his brother, Tosti, made duke of Northumberland, upon the

death of Siward, who had long governed that province with great glory.

Harold's insinuating manners, his power, and virtues, extended and increased his popularity to such a degree, that he began to be talked of as the most proper person to succeed to the crown. But nothing could be more ungrateful to Edward than such a desire, as he abhorred a successor from the family of Godwin. Aroused, therefore, by these rumours, he sent for his nephew, Edward, from Hungary, who was, in fact, the direct descendant from the ancient Saxon kings. Prince Edward soon arrived, but was scarce safely landed, when he died, leaving his pretensions to Edgar Atheling, his son, who was too young, weak, and inactive, to avail himself of his title. The king was now therefore thrown into new difficulties. He saw the youth and inexperience of Edgar, and dreaded the immoderate ambition of Harold. He could not, without reluctance, think of encreasing the grandeur of a family which had risen on the ruins of royal authority, and had been stained in the blood of his own brother. In this uncertainty, he is said to have cast his eyes on William, duke of Normandy, as a person fit to succeed him; but of the truth of this circumstance we must, at this distance of time, be contented to remain in uncertainty.

In the mean time, Harold did not remit in obedience to the king, or his assiduities to the people; still encreasing in his power, and preparing his way for his advancement, on the first vacancy, to the throne. In these aims, fortune herself seemed to assist him; and two incidents which happened about this time, contributed to fix that popularity, which he had been so long eagerly in pursuit of. The Welsh renew

A. D.

1057.

ing their hostilities under prince Griffin, were re

pelled by him, and rendered tributary to the crown of England The other incident was no less honourable his brother, Tosti, who had been appointed to the government of Northumberland, having grievously oppressed the people, was expelled in an insurrection, and Harold was ordered by the king to reinstate him in his power, and punish the insurgents. While yet at the head of an army, preparing to take signal vengeance for the injury done to his brother, he was met by a deputation of the people who had been so cruelly governed. They assured him that they had no intention to rebel, but had taken up arms merely to protect themselves from the cruelty of a rapacious governor. They enumerated the grievances they had sustained from his tyranny, brought the strongest proofs of his guilt, and appealed to Harold's equity for redress. This nobleman convinced of Tosti's brutality, sacrificed his affection to his duty; and not only procured their pardon from the king, but confirmed the governor whom the Northumbrians had chosen in his command. From that time, Harold became the idol of the people; and, indeed, his virtues deserved their love, had they not been excited by ambition.

Harold, thus secure of the affections of the English, no longer strove to conceal his aims, but openly aspired at the succession. He every where insinuated, that as the heir apparent to the crown was utterly unequal to the task of government, both from age and natural imbecility, there was none so proper as a man of mature experience, and tried integrity; he alleged, that a man born in England was only fit to govern Englishmen ; and that none but an able general could defend them against so many foreign enemies, as they were every day threatened with. The people readily saw to what these speeches tended; and, in

stead of discountenancing his pretensions, assisted them with their wishes and applause. Edward, broken with age and infirmities, his mind entirely engrossed by the visions of superstition, and warmly attached to none, saw the danger to which the government was exposed, but took feeble and irresolute steps to secure the succession. While he continued thus uncertain, he was surprised by sickness which brought him to his end, on the fifth of January, in the fifty-sixth of his age, and twenty-fifth of his reign.

A. D.

1066.

This prince, who was reverenced by the monks, under the title of Saint and Confessor, had but weak pretensions to either, being indolent, irresolute and credulous. The tranquillity of his reign was owing rather to the weakness of his foreign enemies, than to his own domestic strength. But, though he seemed to have few active virtues, yet he certainly had no vices of an atrocious kind; and the want of the passions, rather than their restraint, was then, as it has been long since, the best title to canonization. He was the first, who from his supposed sanctity, touched for the king's evil.

Harold, whose intrigues and virtues seemed to give a right to his pretensions, ascended the throne without any opposition. The citizens of London, who were ever fond of an elective monarchy, seconded his claims; the clergy adopted his cause; and the body of the people, whose friend he had been, sincerely loved him. Nor were the first acts of his reign unworthy of the general prejudice in his favour. He took the most effectual measures for an impartial administration of justice; ordered the laws to be revised, and reformed; and those disturbers of the public peace to be punished who had thriven under the lenity of the last reign.

But neither his valour, his justice, nor his popu

larity were able to secure him from the misfortunes attendant upon an ill-grounded title. The first symptoms of his danger came from his own brother, Tosti, who had taken refuge in Flanders, and went among the princes of the Continent, endeavouring to engage them in a league against Harold, whom he represented as a tyrant and usurper. Not content with this, being furnished with some ships by the earl of Flanders, he made a descent upon the isle of Wight, which he laid under contribution, and pillaged along the coast, until he was encountered, and routed by Morcar, who had been appointed to the government from which he was expelled.

But he was not yet without succour, for Harfagar, king of Norway, who had been brought over by his remonstrances, arrived with a fleet of two hundred sail at the mouth of the river Humber, where he was joined by the shattered remains of Tosti's forces. It was in vain that the earls of Mercia and Northumberland attempted to stop their progress, with a body of new raised undisciplined troops; they were quickly routed, and York fell a prey to the enemy. Mean-while, Harold being informed of this misfortune, hastened with an army to the protection of his people, and expressed the utmost ardour to shew himself worthy of their favour. He had given so many proofs of an equitable and prudent administration, that the people flocked from all quarters to join his standard; and, as soon as he reached the enemy at Stamford, he found himself in a condition for giving them battle. The action was very bloody, but the victory was decisive on the side of Harold, and ended in the total rout of the Norwegians, Harfagar, their king, and Tosti, being slain. Those who escaped, owed their safety to the personal prowess of a brave Norwegian; who, singly, de