in whofe government Dover lay, to go immediately to the place, and to punish the inhabitants for their crime. This was a conjuncture highly favourable to the schemes of this aspiring chief, and thinking that now was the time to ingratiate himself with the people, he absolutely refused to obey the king's command. Senfible, however, that obedience would foon be extorted, unless he could defend his infolence, he prepared for his defence, or, rather, for an attack upon Edward. Accordingly, under a pretence of repreffing fome diforders on the Welsh frontier, he fecretly affembled a great army, and attempted to surprise the king, who continued, without the smallest fufpicion, at Gloucefter. Nevertheless, being foon informed of Godwin's treachery, his firft ftep. was privately to fummon all the affiftanee he could, and, in the mean while, to protract the time by a pretended negociation. As foon as he found himself in a capacity to take the field, he then changed his tone; and Godwin, finding himself unable to oppofe his fuperior force, or to keep his army together, permitted it to disperse, and took fhelter with Baldwin, earl of Flanders. His eftates, which were numerous, together with thofe of his fons, were confifcated, and the greatness of the fa

mily feemed, for a time, to be totally overthrown.

But this nobleman's power was too strong to be fhaken by fo flight a blaft; for, being affifted with a fleet by the earl of Flanders, he landed on the isle of Wight, where he was joined by his fon Harold, with a squadron which that nobleman had collected in Ireland. From thence being reinforced by great num, bers of his former dependants and followers, he failed up the Thames, and,appearing before Lon don, threw all things into confufion. In this exigence, the king alone feemed refolute; but his nobility, many of whom were fecretly inclined to Godwin, brought on a negociation; in which it was ftipulated, that the king fhould difmifs all his foreign fervants, the primate being among the number, and that Godwin fhould give hoftages for his own future good behaviour. Godwin's death, which followed foon after, prevented him from reaping the fruits of an agreement, by which the king's authority was almoft reduced to nothing.

This nobleman was fucceeded in his governments and offices by his fon, Harold, who, in his ambition, was equal to his father, but in his virtues and abilities far his fuperior. By a modeft and gentle demeanour he acquired the good-will of Edward, or at least softened those

impreffions of hatred which he had long borne the whole family. He artfully infinuated himfelf into the affections of the people by his liberality and apparent candour, while every day he encreased his power, by feeming modeftly to decline it. By thefe arts he not only fupplanted Algar, duke of Mercia, whom the king raised up to rival his power, but he got his brother, Tofti, made duke of Northumberland, upon the death of Siward, who had long governed that province with great glory.

Harold's infinuating manners, his power, and virtues, extended and encreased his popularity to fuch a degree, that he began to be talked of as the most proper person to fucceed to the crown. But nothing could be more ungrateful to Edward than fuch a defire, as he abhorred a fucceffor from the family of Godwin. Arouzed, therefore, by these rumours, he fent for his nephew, Edward, from Hungary, who was, in fact, the direct defcendant from the ancient Saxon kings. Prince Edward foon arrived, but was scarce fafe landed, when he died, leaving his pretenfions to Edgar Atheling, his fon, who was too young, weak, and inactive, to avail himself of his title. The king was now therefore thrown into new difficulties. He faw the youth and inexperience

A. D. 157.

of Edgar, and dreaded the immoderate ambi tion of Harold. He could not, without reluctance, think of encreafing the grandeur of a family which had rifen on the ruins of royal authority, and had been stained in the blood of his own brother. In this uncertainty, he is faid to have caft his eyes on William, duke of Normandy, as a perfon fit to fucceed him; but of the truth of this circumftance, we muft, at this diftance of time, be contented to remain in uncertainty.

In the mean time, Harold did not remit in obedience to the king, or his affiduities to the people; ftill encreafing in his power, and preparing his way for his advancement, on the first vacancy, to the throne. In thefe aims, fortune herself feemed to affift him; and two incidents which happened about this time, contributed to fix that popularity, which he had been fo long eagerly in pursuit of. The Welch renewing their hoftilities under prince Griffin, were repelled by him, and rendered tributary to the crown of England. The other incident was. no lefs honourable: his brother, Tofti, who had been appointed to the government of Northumberland, having grievously oppreffed the people, was expelled in an infurrection, and Harold was ordered by the king to reinftate

him in his power, and punish the infurgents. While yet at the head of an army, preparing to take fignal vengeance for the injury done to his brother, he was met by a deputation of the people who had been fo cruelly governed, They affured 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 fuftained from his tyranny, brought the ftrongest proofs of his guilt, and appealed to Harold's equity for redrefs. This nobleman, convinced of Tofti's brutality, facrificed his affection to his duty; and not only procured their pardon from the king, but confirmed the governor whom the Northumbrians. had chofen 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 fecure of the affections of the English, no longer ftrove to conceal his aims, but openly afpired at the fucceffion. He every where infinuated, 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 fo proper as a man of mature experience, and tried integrity; he

alledged,