Canutus.

Sweyn dying, his son Canutus succeeds in the kingdom; but Ethelred returning with an army, Canutus is forced to withdraw to Denmark for succour.

Ethelred dies, and his son Edmond Ironside succeeds; but, Canutus returning with fresh forces from Denmark, after several battles, the kingdom is parted between them both.  Edmond dying, his sons are sent beyond sea by Canutus, who now is sole King of England.

  King’s evil.

Hardicanute, the last Danish king, dying without issue, Edward, son of Ethelred, is chosen king.  For his great holiness, he was surnamed the Confessor, and sainted after his death.  He was the first of our princes that attempted to cure the king’s evil by touching.  He first introduced what is now called the Common Law.  In his time began the mode and humour among the English gentry, of using the French tongue and fashions, in compliance with the king, who had been bred up in Normandy.

The Danish government in England lasted but twenty-six years, under three kings.

  Harold.

Edward the Confessor married the daughter of Earl Godwin, an English nobleman of great power, but of Danish extraction; but, wanting issue, he appointed Edgar Atheling, grandson to his brother, to succeed him, and Harold, son of Earl Godwin, to be governor of the young prince.  But, upon Edward’s death, Harold neglected Edgar Atheling, and usurped the crown for himself.

Edward, while he was in Normandy, met so good reception, that it was said he made a promise to that duke, that, in case he recovered his kingdom, and died without issue, he would leave it to him.  Edward dying, William Duke of Normandy sends to Harold to claim the crown; but Harold, now in possession, resolves to keep it.  Upon which Duke William, having prepared a mighty fleet and army, invades England, lands at Hastings, and sets fire to his fleet, to cut off all hope from his men of returning.  To Harold he sent his messenger, demanding the kingdom and his subjection:  But Harold returned him this answer, “That, unless he departed his land, he would make him sensible of his just displeasure.”  So Harold advanced his forces into Sussex, within seven miles of his enemy.  The Norman Duke, to save the effusion of blood, sent these offers to Harold; either wholly to resign the kingdom to him, or to try the quarrel with him in single combat.  To this Harold did not agree.

  A.D. 1066.

Then the battle joined.  The Normans had gotten the worst, if it had not been for a stratagem they invented, which got them the day.  In this engagement Harold was killed, and William Duke of Normandy became King of England, under the name of William the Conqueror.

THE REIGN OF WILLIAM THE SECOND,

SURNAMED RUFUS.