In the treaty with the Duke of Normandy, Canute had stipulated, that he would leave his kingdom to the children of Queen Emma; but, Hardicanute being yet a minor, and unfit to rule such an extensive and newly conquered kingdom, he left the succession to Harold. Ilarclicanute, however, was supported by Earl Godwin, the most powerful nobleman in England ; and a civil war would have been the consequence, had they not agreed to divide the kingdom between them. Harold had London, with all the provinces north of the Thames, and the southern parts were assigned to Hardicanute. Queen Emma immediately fixed her residence at Win chester, and governed in the name of her son.
The ambition of Harold, who was remarkable for no virtue, and whose only accomplishment was agility in running, by which he acquired the surname of Hare foot, was not satisfied with a divided authority ; and his fears were awakened by the recollection, that he had other competitors in Alfred and Edward, the two sons of Ethelred. These princes had arrived from Norman dy, on a visit to their mother at Winchester ; and Ha rold, having gained over Earl Godwin by promising to marry his daughter, resolved to get rid of his fears by their death. Alfred was accordingly invited to London under the mask of friendship, and was waylaid by the vassals of Earl Godwin, who, having murdered 600 of his attendants, seized him as a prisoner, put out his eyes, and threw him into the monastery of Ely, where he soon after died. Emma and Edward were no soon er apprized of Alfred's fate than they left the kingdom, when Harold took possession of his brother's dominions. His triumph, however, was but short. He died after a reign of four years, neither regretted nor esteemed by his subjects.
Ilardicanute succeeded without opposition; but soon lost the affections of his people, by his cruelty, avarice, and intemperance. His hatred to his brother Harold was such, that he ordered his body to be dug up, and thrown into the Thames. He also revived the odious tax of Danegelt, which had been originally imposed to resist the invasions of the Danes, or to pay their exac tions, but which had been long discontinued. This im position spread discontent throughout the kingdom, and the inhabitants of Worcester resisted the payment of it, and put two of the collectors to death. This drew upon them the vengeance of the tyrant, who set fire to their city, and delivered it up to be plundered by his soldiers. He died soon after of a debauch, and was the last of the Danish race of kings.
Edward, surnamed the Confessor, the son of Ethel red, was called to the throne by the universal consent of the nation. The English were overjoyed at the re storation of their native prince, and congratulated them selves with the hope of their never again being subject to a foreign dominion. The only fear of opposition on this occasion was from Earl Godwin, between whom and Edward there subsisted an open animosity, on ac count of the minder of Prince Alfred. Edward, how ever, was obliged to smother his resentment for the pre sent. He submitted to a reconciliation, and, as a pledge of his sincerity, he promised to marry Editha, the daugh ter of Godwin. New causes of dissension soon arose, Edward, who had been educated in Normandy, had con tracted a partiality for the manners and usages of that country. Whatever was Norman was sure to meet with his favour. His court was, consequently, in a short time crowded with foreigners, who soon introduced their customs and language among the natives. The atten tion and confidence of the king was chiefly confined to these strangers. He bestowed upon them the highest ecclesiastical preferment ; and the secs of Canterbury, London, and Dorchester, were filled by Normans. This excited the jealousy of the English, particularly of Earl Godwin, who had also been irritated by the treatment which his daughter had met with from Ed ward. The reconciliation of the king with that noble man was forced upon him by political considerations; but he could not forget the injuries which he had suf fered. His hatred to the father was transferred to the daughter ; and the beautiful Editha, though possessed of many amiable accomplishments, could never acquire the love of her husband. It is even said, that, during the whole course of her life, this frigid monarch ab stained from all matrimonial intercourse with her ; and it is asserted by the monks, that he married this prin cess purely to exercise his virtues, by withstanding a continual temptation ; and it was for this absurd. conti nence, whether pretended or real, that he obtained the title of Saint or Confessor. As Godwin, however, could not openly assign this as a ground for disaffection, he seized upon the more popular pretence,—the great pow er and influence of the Normans in the government; and an occasion was soon offered him for declaring his ani mosity, and bringing it into action.