Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/11

Rh no little alteration; the nobles, by degrees, uſurped an authority which the laws had not entitled them to; they limited the prerogative of the King; and invaded the rights of the people, ſo that the government in England continually approached towards an Ariſtocracy. The inſolence of earl to  the Confeſſor probably occaſioned that cautious monarch, who had good reaſon to ſuſpect that the earl had intentions of aſpiring to his crown, to invite over to his court  of Normandy. This viſit, furniſhed that enterprizing nobleman ſome years after with a pretence to inherit the throne, for on ’s being nominated ſucceſſor to King, inſiſted that he had been promiſed the crown by the late King, and that  himſelf had taken an oath to aſſiſt him in obtaining it; and ſubmitting his cauſe to the judgment of Pope  II. was declared an uſurper by that pontiff.

conſequence of this deciſion, invaded England with a powerful army, and ſlew  in the memorable battle of Haſtings; and, by that act, ended the government of the Saxons in England, two hundred and thirty ſeven years after the union of the Heptarchy, and ſix hunded and ſeventeen after the landing of.