to be a shoomakers sonne, and how it came to passe that he was counted king Cnutes bastard; Alfred challengeth the crowne from Harold, Goodwine (vnder colour of friendlie interteinment) procureth his retinues vtter vndooing, a tithing of the Normans by the poll, whether Alfred was interessed in the crowne, the trecherous letter of Harold written in the name of queene Emma to hir two sons in Normandie, wherevpon Alfred commeth ouer into England, the vnfaithfull dealing of Goodwine with Alfred and his people, teaching that in trust is treason, a reseruation of euerie tenth Norman, the remanent slaine, the lamentable end of Alfred, and with what torments he was put to death; Harold banisheth queene Emma out of England he degenerateth from his father, the short time of his reigne, his death and buriall.

THE XIIIJ.  CHAPTER.

[Sidenote:  HAROLD. Matth.  West. Wil.  Malm.] After that Cnute was departed this life, there arose much variance amongst the peeres and great lords of the realme about the succession.  The Danes and Londoners (which through continuall familiaritie with the Danes, were become like vnto them) elected Harold the base [Sidenote:  Controuersie for the crowne.] sonne of king Cnute, to succeed in his fathers roome, hauing earle Leofrike, and diuerse other of the noble men of the north parts on their side.  But other of the Englishmen, and namelie earle Goodwine earle of Kent, with the chiefest lords of the west parts, coueted rather to haue one of king Egelreds sonnes, which were in Normandie, [Sidenote:  Simon Dun.] or else Hardicnute the sonne of king Cnute by his wife queene Emma, which remained in Denmarke, aduanced to the place.  This [Sidenote:  The realme diuided betwixt Harold and Hardicnute.] controuersie held in such wise, that the realme was diuided (as some write) by lot betwixt the two brethren Harold and Hardicnute.  The north part, as Mercia and Northumberland fell to Harold, and the south part vnto Hardicnute:  but at length the whole remained vnto Harold, bicause his brother Hardicnute refused to come out of Denmarke to take the gouernment vpon him.

[Sidenote:  The authoritie of earle Goodwine. H.  Hunt.] But yet the authoritie of earle Goodwine, who had the queene and the treasure of the realme in his keeping, staied the matter a certeine time, (professing himselfe as it were gardian to the yoong men, the sonnes of the queene, till at length he was constreined to giue ouer his hold, and conforme himselfe to the stronger part and greater number.) And so at Oxford, where the assemblie was holden about the election, Harold was proclaimed king, and consecrated [Sidenote:  The refusall of the archbishop Elnothus to consecrate king Harold.] according to the maner (as some write.) But it should appeere by other, that Elnothus the archbishop of Canturburie, a man indued with all vertue and wisedome, refused to crowne him: