The Count of Boulogne, on his return from a visit to the court of England, had been stopt at Dover by a tu mult of the populace, which had been excited by the insolence of one of his attendants, and from which he with difficulty escaped. He hastened back to Edward, and complained of the ill treatment which he had met with. The king immediately ordered Godwin, under whose jurisdiction Dover was, to punish the inhabitants. Godwin, instead of complying, threw the whole blame of the disturbance upon the Count and his followers; and, under pretence of preparing for an expedition against the Welsh, he assembled a large. army, and marched directly to Gloucester, where Edward then resided. The king, totally unprepared for such a pro ceeding, endeavoured to gain time by negotiation. In the meanwhile, he was joined by Siwaid, Duke of Nor thumberland, and Leofric, Duke of Mercia, and soon assembled an army sufficient to set his opponent at de fiance. He immediately proceeded to Lorldon, and sum moned a council to judge of Godwin's rebellion. That nobleman, finding himself unable to make head against the power of his sovereign, fled into Flanders with his three sons, Gurth, Sweyn, and Tosti ; while Harold and Leofwin, two others of his sons, took shelter in Ireland. Their estates were immediately confiscated; and Queen Editha was confined in a monastery at Warewel.
Godwin, however, was not discouraged by this un promising aspect of affairs ; and he was too strongly supported by powerful alliances, both foreign and do mestic, to remain quiet under his misfortunes. He as sembled an armament in Flanders ; and, when a fa vourable opportunity presented itself, lie set sail for the Isle of Wight, where he was joined by his son IIa told with a squadron from Ireland. They traversed all the southern coast, entering the harbours, and car rying olf the ships. Edward had no fleet capable of opposing them ; and, as they declared that they came only to procure justice for themselves, and to relieve their country from the tyranny of foreign influence, they were soon reinforced by great numbers. They then entered the Thames, and appeared before London. The king was compelled, by necessity, to come to an accommodation. It was agreed, that Robert, archbi shop of Canterbury, who was a Norman, and the most obnoxious of his countrymen, should be banished, and that Godwin should give hostages for his future obe dience. This turbulent nobleman was thus reinstated in all his former power ; but his hostages, for greater security, were sent by Edward to his kinsman, the Duke of Normandy, Godwin's Math, however, re lieved the king, for a time, from farther disquietude ; but his son Harold inherited the power and ambition of his father, and was superior to him in talents and in virtue. By his insinuating address, he had softened, in some degree, the hatred which Edward had always borne to his family ; and his popularity was daily increa sing, by his generosity and affability of manners.
The king saw the growing authority of Harold, but had not vigour to oppose it ; and at last had recourse to the dangerous expedient of setting up as a rival, Al gar, the son of Leofric, Duke of Mercia, who possess ed the government of East Anglia. Algar, however, was unable to stand before the power and the intrigues of Harold, whose influence obtained his expulsion from his government, and his banishment from the kingdom ; and the death of Algar, and his father Leofric, which happened soon after, freed Harold from any farther ap prehension from that quarter. His power was also considerably augmented, by the accession of his brother Tosti to the dukedom of Northumberland. Siward, the former duke, had greatly distinguished himself, by an expedition to Scotland against the usurper Macbeth, whom he defeated and killed in battle, and restored Malcolm Kenmore to the throne of his father ; but he lost in that enterprize his oldest son Osberne ; and as his second son, Waltheof, was too young to be entrust ed with such a government, Harold had the influence to procure it for his own brother. Edward could not
but perceive,.that this nobleman was aiming at the suc cession to the throne ; and as he felt himself broken down by age and infirmities, he invited his nephew Edward, the son of Edmond lronside, from Hungary, and appointed him his successor in the kingdom. The death of that prince, however, which happened a few days after his arrival in England, and the tender age and inexperience of his son Edgar Atheling, threw the king into new difficulties. He still retained his dislike to the family of Godwin ; and could not brook the idea, that they who had risen on the ruins of his authority, should succeed to his throne. lie therefore cast his eye on his kinsman William, Duke of Normandy, and even secretly commissioned Robert, archbishop of Canter bury, to inform Wilfiam of his intentions.
Duke William had displayed the greatest abilities, both •as a statesman and a warrior. He had come to the go vernment when a minor; and the regency established by his father could with difficulty maintain themselves, amidst the dangers of foreigrNnvasion and internal dis sension. But the prince no sooner came to maturity, than he struck terror into his enemies, by the vigour and wisdom of his administration. Ills valour and con duct prevailed in every action. He compelled his in vaders to retire; reduced his turbulent and licentious barons to submission; and soon established his domi nions in complete tranquillity. The intelligence of Ed ward's intentions excited his ambitious hopes; and he endeavoured, by every mean, to secure their object. Harold, however, was equally unremitting in establish ing his power, and preparing for the expected vacancy. He had extorted, by his intrigues, the king's consent to release the hostages which had been given by his father, and which were still in the hands of the Duke of Normandy. He was unwilling that such near rela tions should remain prisoners in a distant country, and was afraid that they might be retained as pledges for his own good behaviour, in the event of any dispute about the succession. He therefore had no sooner ob tained Edward's sanction for their release, than he set sail with a numerous retinue for Normandy. He was driven by a tempest on the territories of the Count of Ponthieu, who, being informed of his quality, detained him prisoner, and demanded an exorbitant sum for his ransom. Harold, however, found means to acquaint the Duke of Normandy with his situation; and William immediately seized this favourable opportunity of gain ing over Harold to his views. Supported by the influ ence of this most powerful nobleman, he thought his succession to the throne of England would be secured; and he accordingly compelled the Count of Ponthieu to set him at liberty, and received him at Rouen with every demonstration of respect and esteem. They were both ignorant of each other's pretensions; and Harold was not a little surprised, when he heard, for the first time, of the intentions of Edward to make William his heir. He was obliged, however, to con ceal his feelings. William offered him his daughter in marriage, and promised to raise his family to still greater honours, if he would assist him with his power. He also required him to take an oath that he would be true to his engagements: to all of which, Harold was obliged to feign compliance ; and they parted with all the appearance of mutual friendship.