up with him. They broke out in rebellion, and King Ed ward sent Harold to the north to settle matters, hoping that Tostig would be re-established in his dominion. But when Harold found that his brother had ruled cruelly and unjustly, and that the Northumbrians were resolved not to have him, and had even chosen another earl, he would not go to war for the sake of his brother; he allowed the Northumbrians to keep the earl whom they had chosen, and Tostig had to flee over the sea. The people saw that Harold had their good at heart more than the greatness of his own family, and they honored and trusted him more than ever. Edward's end was now drawing near. He was growing old, and there was one thing he longed to see completed before he died, one great work on which his heart was set, which was the building of Westminster Abbey. Though Westminster is now part of London, and we cannot tell when we pass from one into the other, in Edward's day it was at some little distance, and, besides, it was an island. There were then, besides the river Thames, a great number of streams running down from the hills around London, which are now buried under the streets. There had been a little old church upon this island, which, being covered with thickets and thorns, was called "Thorney Isle."

Westminster Abbey.

Here Edward, who had been used to see much grander buildings in Normandy than the English knew how to make, determined that he would build the finest church that had ever been seen in England, and he also built himself a palace, where he might watch the work going on. The place where it stood is still called "Old Palace Yard." This new grand church, which was dedicated to St. Peter, was called the West Minster; the principal church in London itself was dedicated to St. Paul.

There is very little of Edward's grand abbey left now; but a few foundations of pillars, and perhaps a dark archway or two, are still there. And the present Westminster Abbey, which has been called "the most lovely and lovable thing in Christendom," is on the same spot; and there may still be seen the "shrine" or tomb of Edward the Confessor, the first of all the good or great or famous Englishmen who lie buried there. To see the minster finished and consecrated was his heart's desire.

There was still one more thing to do, namely to appoint

his successor. He had no children; all the old royal family were dead except that son of Edmund Ironside who had been sent long ago to Hungary, and his children. Edward, perhaps, meant to make him king after his own death, for he sent for him, and had him and his three children brought to England, just as he himself had been sent for by Harthacnut. Prince Edward arrived with his son, Edgar the Etheling, and his two daughters, but he died almost directly after reaching England. His son Edgar was a very weak, almost imbecile young man. Had he been like his grandfather, Edmund Ironside, it is probable that the course of English history would have been different. But this feeble, harmless fellow was not fit to be king in troublous times, and it was evident that the struggle for the throne would be between William and Harold, two strong and vigorous men. William always maintained that his cousin had promised the kingdom to him, but it is certain that as Edward lay dying he said Harold was to be his heir.

1065. Death of Edward.

It was Christmas time at Westminster, and the beautiful church was finished, ready to be consecrated. Edward longed to have strength for that great and joyful day. It was fixed for December 28th, the Feast of the Innocents. But he was too ill and weak to be present, the queen * had to take his place at the ceremony, and he only went into the church when he was carried there to be buried.

They tell us that when he was dying he said he "hoped he was passing from the land of the dead to the land of the living;" and the "Chronicle" says, "St. Peter, his friend, opened to him the gate of Paradise, and St. John, his own dear one, led him before the Divine Majesty."

*It does not appear when the queen was set at liberty, but the king was never on pleasant terms with her.

CHAPTER XV.

THE CONQUEST.

Election of Harold. Battle of Stamford Bridge. Battle of Hastings. Corona tion of William the Conqueror. His character. Effects of the Norman Conquest -on the English character - on the English language.

1065.

Ir was evident that there would be a great contest for the crown at the death of Edward the Confessor. But in the minds of the English there was no doubt at all. King Har- Harold was elected on the very day Edward died. old. The next day, January 6, Edward was buried and Harold crowned in the new abbey at Westminster. No one thought of choosing the Etheling, Edgar, who was the only man left of the old royal family, but who was young and weak, and plainly unfit to govern.

Some historians call Harold a usurper, because he was not of the royal house; but being an Englishman, and chosen by the English people, he was, according to the usage of the time, as true a king as ever reigned.

He had already been king, in all but the name, through the last years of Edward the Confessor, and all the people knew him to be wise, just, brave, and merciful. He had, however, but little time to show his noble qualities, and his short reign was full of troubles.

It was not likely that William of Normandy, the proud, ambitious, and strong-willed man, would give up the great

William.

wish of his life without a struggle. It is said that Duke when he first heard the news of Harold being made king he was "speechless with rage." However, he did not choose to show his fury at once; indeed, it would have suited him far better to come in peaceably than to have to fight for the kingdom. He accordingly, began by sending messages to Harold, reminding him of the oath he had sworn, and summoning him to give up the kingdom to him who was Edward's heir. Harold must have bitterly lamented the

false step he had taken in swearing an oath which he never meant to keep.

He sent back a straightforward message to the duke, that that oath had been extorted from him by fear of violence, and therefore was not binding; he also said very truly that he had had no right to make any oath or promise about the kingdom, which it had never been in his power to give away without the consent of the people and of the wise men, and that a rash oath ought to be broken. And he ended by saying proudly that all the English people had heartily joined in giving the kingdom to him, and that he would not show himself so unworthy of their favor as to resign it, or to cease protecting them from foreign enemies; and, in short, that he would not give up the kingdom unless he gave with it his life.

William began forthwith to make preparations for seizing the crown of England by force, since he could not get it without. He made friends among the princes and potentates of the Continent, so as to get aid from their soldiers. But the principal ally he tried to secure was the Pope.

We may well wonder what concern the Bishop of Rome could have in the succession to the English throne. Hitherto the Popes had taken but little interest in English The Pope. affairs, beyond giving the pall to the archbishops, and getting all the money they could from them, and from the country in general. But now that they were determined to have a voice in the governing of every kingdom, the Pope would be glad of an opportunity like this to have something to say as to who should be king.

Of course Harold and the English never thought of asking the Pope's opinion, still less his permission; they settled things in the old English way. Therefore there was no doubt the Pope would favor the Frenchman.

He pro

nounced Harold accursed and excommunicated, and he sent William a consecrated banner and a hair of St. Peter. It was not till afterwards that he made known what he expected in return.

Meanwhile William went on with his preparations, collecting a great army, increasing the pay of his soldiers, and making lavish promises to all. But with all his army, his ships, and his strong will, even with the Pope's banner and St. Peter's hair, he would hardly have prevailed against Harold and his Englishmen had it not been for an English

traitor who turned against his country and joined with her enemies. This was no other than Tostig, Harold's Tostig. brother, who had been driven out of Northumberland for his injustice and cruelty, and whom Harold had refused to support.

Tostig had taken refuge in Norway, and made friends with the king of that country, and the two now joined in invading the northern part of England, where they defeated the troops who opposed them and laid siege to York. Harold therefore, instead of watching the coast to prevent the Normans from landing, was obliged to march to the north to drive these invaders away. He tried at first to make peace with his brother, promising him forgiveness and rewards if he would submit.

But when Tostig asked what he would give to his friend, the king of Norway, Harold's messenger replied "Seven feet of English ground for a grave; or, perhaps, as Battle of Stamford he is a tall man, a little more. After this defiance Bridge. there was no more thought of peace. A great battle was fought, and Harold conquered. Not only the tall Norwegian king, but Tostig also, and many other chieftains were left dead on the field, and occupied their "seven feet of English ground."

While Harold and his men were still rejoicing at their triumph, there came news that the Normans had landed in the south and were ravaging the country. Harold had to hurry back, and to collect another army. But even now not all the English came. Two of the great earls, Edwin and Morcar, stayed away, jealous of Harold, as their father, who had been Earl of Mercia, had been jealous of Harold's father, Godwine. They seem to have thought, and even hoped, that England might now fall in pieces again, and be divided into separate kingdoms, as it had been in old times, aud that, perhaps, if William conquered Wessex and the south, they might be kings of Mercia and Northumberland. This was, no doubt, another reason why the English were

overcome.

Battle of

A long and obstinate battle took place. From sunrise till moonrise the English stood firm around their brave king, who fought on foot with his two faithful brothers Hastings, by his side. The English and the English battleaxes were strong, but the Normans, with their fine horses and skilful bowmen, were stronger. Harold was

or Senlac.