Page:The child's pictorial history of England; (IA childspictorialh00corn).pdf/64

 2. Now this is a doubtful question; for, although the king could appoint a successor, if he thought proper; yet it was necessary that his choice should have the approval of the Witenagemote, which had not been given in this case; so the English said that, notwithstanding king Edward's will, the Duke of Normandy had no right to the throne.

3. I cannot pretend to say which was right; but, as it is of more consequence to know how the dispute ended, we will proceed to the history of the conquest.

4. The Normans were great warriors; so that even many of the clergy would sometimes put on armour under their robes, and lead their own vassals to battle; and they had as much interest in the dispute as the nobles, for they expected to come into possession of some of the Bishops' sees and rich abbey lands, provided Duke William should succeed in his enterprise.

5. While all this was going on in Normandy, Harold's brother, Tosti, had raised a rebellion in the north of England, and was joined by the king of Norway, who landed with an army in Yorkshire: so Harold had to go and fight with them, and there was a great battle at Stamford Bridge, where the king gained a complete victory.