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.
SURNAMED RUFUS.
