was decifive on the fide of Harold, and ended in the total rout of the Norwegians, Harfagar, their king, and Tofti being flain. Those who escaped, owed their fafety to the personal prowess of a brave Norwegian; who, fingly, defended a bridge over the Derwent for three hours, against the whole English army; during which time, he flew forty of their best men with his battle-ax, but he was at length flain by an arrow. Harold, pursuing his victory, made himfeif master of a Norwegian fleet that lay in the river Oufe; and had the generofity to give prince Olave, the fon of Harfagar, his liberty, and to allow him to depart with twenty veffels. There had never before been in England an engagement between two fuch numerous armies, each being compofed of no less than threefcore thousand men. The news of this victory diffufed inexpreffible joy over the whole kingdom; they gloried in a monarch, who now fhewed himself able to defend them from infult, and avenge them of their invaders; but they had not long time for triumph, when news was brought of a fresh invafion, more formidable than had ever been formed against England before. This was under the conduct of William, duke of Normandy, who landed at Haft

Sept. 28. ings, with an army of difciplined veterans, and laid claim to the English crown.

1066.

William, who was afterwards called the Conqueror, was the natural fon of Robert, duke of Normandy. His mother's name was Arlette, a beautiful maid of Falaize, whom Robert fell in love with, as fhe stood gazing at her door whilft he paffed through the town. William, who was the offspring of this amour, owed a part of his greatnefs to his birth, but ftill more to his own perfonal merit. His body was vigorous, his mind capacious and noble, and his courage not be repreffed by apparent danger. His father, Robert, growing old, and, as was common with princes then, fuperftitious alfo, refolved upon a pilgrimage to Jerufalem, contrary to the advice and opinion of all his nobility. As his heart was fixed upon. the expedition, inftead of attending to their remonftrances, he fhewed them his fon William, whom, though illegitimate, he tenderly loved, and recommended to their care, exacting an oath from them of homage and fealty. He then put him, as he was yet but ten years of age, under the tutelage of the French king; and foon after, going into Afia, from whence he never returned, left young William rather the inheritor of his wifhes,

than

than his crown. In fact, William, from the beginning, found himself expofed to many dangers, and much oppofition, from his youth. and inexperience, from the reproach of his birth, from a fufpected guardian, a difputed title, and a distracted ftate. The regency, appointed by Robert, found great difficulties in fupporting the government against this complication of dangers; and the young prince, when he came of age, found himself reduced to a very low condition. But the great qualities which he foon difplayed in the field, and the cabinet, gave encouragement to his friends, and ftruck a terror into his enemies. He on all fides oppofed his rebellious fubjects, and repreffed foreign invaders, while his valour and conduct prevailed · in every action. The tranquility which he had thus eftablished in his dominions, induced him to extend his views; and fome overtures,. made him by Edward the Confeffor, in the latter part of his reign, who was wavering in the choice of a fucceffor, enflamed his ambition with a defire of fucceeding to the English throne. Whether Edward really appointed. him to fucceed, as William all along pretended, is, at this distance of time, uncertain; but it is beyond a doubt, that Harold happening

to

to pay a visit to the Norman coaft, was induce ed by this prince, to acknowledge his claims, and to give a promise of seconding them. This promise, however, Harold did not think proper to perform, when it stood in the way of his own ambition; and afterwards, when William objected the breach, he excused himself, by alledging, that it was extorted from him, at a time when he had no power to refuse. On whatever fide juftice might lie, the pretext on William's part was, that he was appointed heir to the crown of England by Edward the Confeffor, upon a vifit he had paid that monarch during his life-time. In confequence of these pretenfions, he was not remifs, after the death of Edward, to lay in his claims; but Harold would admit none of them, refolved to defend, by his valour, what his intrigues had won. William, finding that arms alone were to be the final deciders of this difpute, prepared to affert his right with vigour. His fubjects, as they had long been diftinguished for valour among the European nations, had, at this time, attained to the highest pitch of military glory. His court was the center of politeness; and all who wifhed for fame in arms, or was naturally fond of adventure, flocked to put themselves under his conduct. The fame of

his intended invafion of England, was diffused over the whole Continent; multitudes came to offer him their fervices in this expedition; so that he was embarraffed rather in the choice of whom he should take, than in the levying his forces. The pope himself was not behind the rest in favouring his pretensions; but, either influenced by the apparent juftice of his claims, or by the hopes of extending the authority of the church, he immediately pronounced Haroldan ufurper. He denounced excommunication against him, and all his adherents ; and fent the duke a confecrated banner, to infpire him with confidence. With fuch favourable incentives, William foon found himfelf at the head of a chofen army of fixty thoufand men, all equipped in the most warlike and fplendid manner. The discipline of the men, the vigour of the horfes, the luftre of the arms and accoutrements, were objects that had been scarcely feen in Europe for fome ages before. It was in the beginning of fummer that he embarked this powerful body, on board a fleet of three hundred fail; and, after fome fmall oppofition from the weather, landed at Pevensey, on the coat of Suffex, with refolute tranquility. William himself, as he came on fhore, happened to ftumble and fall, but, inVOL. I.

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