The English, considering their great resources, might nave done much to retrieve their affairs; and had they been unanimous, might have worn out their invaders by a protracted warfare. But they were divided and dismayed. The intelligence of the battle Of Hastings spread terror and consternation throughout the king dom, and no one appeared to whom the nation could entrust its fortunes. Edgar Attieling- was proclaimed king, and Mortar and Edwin, Harold's brothers-in-law, endeavoured to make a stand in his defence. But their plans were disconcerted by the rapid advance of the conqueror to the capital. The clergy were the first to bow before his consecrated standard, and even insisted that the pope's bull called for general submission to the authority of William. On his approach, Edgar, the new elected king, with Stigand, Archbishop of Can terbury, and the .chief nobility, entered his camp, and made him a formal offer of the crown of England, upon condition that lie would govern according to the cus toms of the country. Though by right of conquest he could have demanded the crown, yet he chose rather to accept it as a voluntary gift ; and he was consecrated in Westminster Abbey, by Aldred, Archbishop of York. Edwin and Morcar, who had retired with their troops to their own provinces, and others of the principal nobi lity, who were not present at the coronation, soon after came and swore fealty to the new sovereign.
The beginning of William's reign was marked with mildness and humanity. Though all real power was placed in the hands of the Normans, he took care that they should use it with moderation. Every disorder or oppression met with severe punishment. He built citadels in London, and other towns best situated for commanding the kingdom, where he quartered his ar my, among whom he had distributed considerable sums as the reward of their valour; but he governed them with rigorous discipline, and restrained every appear ance of insolence towards the natives. He received, with affability, all who approached his person, and seem ed desirous that the two nations should live in the clo sest amity.
Peace and tranquillity seemed now to be firmly esta blished; and William, nowise apprehensive of any dis turbances by his new subjects, went over to Normandy to receive the congratulations of his countrymen. His brother Odo, Bishop of Baieux, and William Fitz-Os berm, were entrusted with the administration of the kingdom during his absence; and the better to secure their authority from any fear of resistance, he carried with him the chief of the English nobility. These not only served to grace his court by the magnificence and costliness of their equipages, but might be considered as hostages for the fidelity of the nation. His depar ture, however, was soon followed by conspiracies and insurrections. The Norman captains, no longer under the eye of their sovereign, grudged the restraints which had been imposed upon their rapine, and treated with contempt a people who had surrendered their liberties so easily. Their insults and depredations produced a
general disaffection among the English, which in some places broke out into open rebellion. A secret conspi racy was even formed for a general massacre of the Norman soldiery, which was to take place on Ash Wed nesday, during the time of divine service, when the Normans would be unarmed ; and Earl Coxo was murdered by his vassak, because he refused to join in this enterprize. The presence of William, however, disconcerted all their 'schemes. Many of the conspira tors fled, whose estates were forfeited, and bestowed upon his Norman followers; and, as a farther mean of • rarefying their !opacity, he renewed the tax of Dane 'eh, which had been so odious to the nation. This only produced new insurrections. in Exeter, Cornwall, raid De‘onshire, the inhabitants took up arms, but were soon suppressed. But in the north they assumed a more formidable appearance. Edwin and Morcar, Im pelled by private injuries, as well as public wrongs, and encouraged by the promise of assistance from Wales, Scotland, and Denmark, resolved to attempt the de liv•rance of their oppressed countrymen ; but they were surprised by the king before any of the foreign succours had arrived, and were obliged to submit to his cle mency. They were pardoned and restored to their possessions; but their follower s were treated with great er rigour, and their lands were divided among his fo reign adventurers. Many fled front oppression into fo reign countries; and Edgar Atheling, distrusting the insidious caresses of William, sought refuge with his two sisters, Margaret and Christina, in the court of Malcolm King of Scotland, who soon after married irgaret, and treated with kindness all the English exiles who sought his protection. William now began to view the English as unworthy of his clemency, and as a people on whom he could place no dependence; and henceforth he was determined to treat them with the utmost rigour. All offices of trust and confidence were consequently bestowed upon the Normans, who com mitted continual insults and depredations.
Finding no redress for such injuries from their go t the English took vengeance with their own hands, and assassinated Normans were daily found in the woods and highways, without any possibility of bringing the perpetrators to justice. Many of the Nor man chiefs finding themselves continually exposed to the fury of an incensed people, and under constant ap of danger, longed for the peace and secu rity Of their native country. They desired to be dis missed front the service, which William granted, but at the same time resented, by confiscating all their pos sessions in England. New insurrections were followed by new forfeitures and attainders ; and the Normans found it their interest to instigate rebellion, as they were sure to be benefited by its suppression.