Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 1.djvu/80

66 made, and was soon afterwards dismissed from Normandy in all courtesy and honour.

No sooner, however, had Harold returned to his native country, than he began to reflect on the engagement he had taken, and attempted to justify the breach he already meditated, by the fact that it had been extorted by fear, and that, if fulfilled, it might ultimately subject England to the yoke of a foreign power, which had already caused such miseries to his fellow-countrymen. He still continued, therefore, to practise every art to increase his popularity—in the hope, by thus displaying his power and popularity before Edward, to prevent the aged monarch from carrying out his intentions in favour of his rival.



Fortune, shortly after his arrival in England, favoured him by giving him two occasions of distinguishing himself. The first was an expedition against the Welsh, who had long been accustomed to infest and plunder the western borders of the kingdom, and, after spoiling the country, retreat to their own mountain fastnesses.

Griffith, the reigning prince, had greatly distinguished himself in these incursions; and his name had become so terrible to the English, that Harold found he could do nothing more acceptable to the public, and more honourable for himself, than the suppressing of so dangerous an enemy. He formed the plan of an expedition against Wales; and having prepared some light-armed foot to pursue the natives into their fastnesses, some cavalry to scour the open country, and a squadron of ships to attack the sea-coast, he employed at once all these forces against the Welsh, prosecuted his