Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 1.djvu/79

TO 1066.] of the throne on the first vacancy; and that Edgar, on account of his youth and inexperience, was very unfit to oppose the pretensions of so popular and enterprising a rival. The animosity which he had long borne to Earl Godwin made him averse to the succession of his son; and he could not, without extreme reluctance, think of an increase of grandeur to a family which had risen on the ruins of royal authority, and which, by the murder of Alfred, his brother, had contributed so much to the weakening of the Saxon line. In this uncertainty, he secretly cast his eye towards his kinsman, William, Duke of Normandy, as the only person whose power, and reputation, and capacity could support Any destination which he might make in his favour, to the exclusion of Harold and his family.

This famous prince was natural son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, by Harlotta, daughter of a tanner in Falaise, and was very early established in that grandeur from which his birth seemed to have set him at so great a distance. While he was but nine years of age, his father had resolved to undertake a pilgrimage to Jerusalem—a fashionable act of devotion, which had taken the place of the pilgrimages to Rome, and which, as it was attended with more difficulty and danger, and carried those religious enthusiasts to the cradle of Christianity, appeared to them more meritorious. Before setting out on his expedition, he assembled the states of his duchy, and induced them to swear allegiance to his son William, whom, as he had no legitimate issue, he designated his successor, in the event of his never returning.

The duke died whilst engaged in this pilgrimage; and the minority of his son afforded to the luxurious nobles full scope for the gratification of their passions.

But the great qualities which the young prince soon displayed, encouraged his friends, and struck consternation to his enemies: he appeared himself in arms, on all sides, to his turbulent and rebellious subjects; and obliged Henri I. of France, who thought it a favourable occasion to repress a too powerful subject, to conclude a peace upon honourable conditions.

The tranquillity which William, after many efforts, succeeded in establishing, gave him leisure to pay Edward a visit in England, during the period of Earl Godwin's exile in Flanders. He was received in a manner suitable to his reputation, and the near relationship between them, by the Saxon monarch, who began to think of nominating the young Duke of Normandy as his successor.

This occurred before the return of Harold, who now proceeded, in a more open manner, to prepare the way to the throne, by using every means to increase his popularity with the people. From the age and great infirmities of the king, he foresaw that the vacancy could not be long distant; but there was still an obstacle to be vanquished.

Earl Godwin, his father, had given hostages for his future loyalty and peaceable conduct; and these hostages—amongst whom were one son and grandson of the ambitious noble—Edward, for greater security, as has been related, had consigned to the custody of the Duke of Normandy. Harold, though not aware of the duke being his competitor, was uneasy that such near relations should be detained prisoners in a foreign country; and he was afraid lest William should, in favour of Edgar, retain these pledges as a check on the ambition of any other pretender. He represented, therefore, to the king his unfeigned submission to royal authority, his steady duty to his prince, and the little necessity there was, after such a uniform trial of his obedience, to detain any longer those hostages who had been required on the first composing of civil discords. By these topics, enforced by his great power, he extorted the king's consent to release them; and in order to effect his purpose, he immediately proceeded, with a numerous retinue, on his journey to Normandy. A tempest drove him on the territory of Guy, Count of Ponthieu, who, being informed of his quality, immediately detained him prisoner, and demanded an exorbitant sum for his ransom. Harold found means to convey intelligence of his situation to the Duke of Normandy; and represented, that while he was proceeding to his court, in execution of a commission from the King of England, he had met with this harsh treatment from the mercenary disposition of the Count of Ponthieu.

William was immediately sensible of the importance of the incident: he foresaw that if he could once gain Harold, either by favours or menaces, his way to the throne of England would be open, and Edward would meet with no farther obstacle in executing the favourable intentions which he had entertained in his behalf. He sent, therefore, a messenger to Guy, in order to demand the liberty of his prisoner; and that nobleman, not daring to refuse so great a prince, put Harold into the hands of the Norman, who conducted him to Rouen. William received him with every demonstration of respect and friendship; and after showing himself disposed to comply with his desire, in delivering up the hostages, he took an opportunity of disclosing to him the great secret of his pretensions to the crown of England, and of the will which Edward intended to make in his favour. He desired the assistance of Harold in perfecting that design; he made professions of the utmost gratitude in return for so great an obligation; he promised that the present grandeur of Harold's family, which supported itself with difficulty owing to the jealousy of Edward, should receive fresh increase from a successor who would be so much beholden to him for his advancement. Harold concealed his surprise and consternation at the intelligence; but, conscious that he could not regain either his own liberty, or that of his brother and nephew, affected compliance, and declared his firm intention of maintaining the will of the Confessor. (A.D. 1057.)

William offered him one of his daughters in marriage, as a means of binding him still more strongly to his interests; and proposed that he should take an oath to keep his promise, to which Harold reluctantly assented.

Then occurred one of those remarkable scenes so common in the superstitious age in which the principal actors of it flourished. William caused the most celebrated relics of the saints and martyrs to be brought from the churches, and secretly placed beneath the covering of the altar on which the English noble was to take the oath. No sooner were the solemn words pronounced, than the prelate who had administered them drew off the cloth, and displayed the holy collection. Harold was appalled.

"Behold," exclaimed William, "the relics of God's blessed saints and martyrs—not one of them but is a witness of the oath you have just taken. Beware how you violate it, for they will feel themselves bound in honour to avenge it."

This speech, so highly characteristic of the times, and the belief of the age, was not without its effect upon Harold, who once more renewed the promises he had