208 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

C II AIII.

London, lie ordered it again to be dug up, andto be thrown again into the river: But it wasfished up a second time, and then interred withgreat secrecy. Godwin , equally servile andinsolent , submitted to be his instrument in thisunnatural and brutal action.

That nobleman knew, that he was universallybelieved to have been an accomplice in the bar-barity exercised on Alfred, and that he was onthat account obnoxious to Hardicanute ; andperhaps he hoped, by displaying this rage againstHarold’s memory, to justify himself from havinghad any participation in his counsels. But princeEdward, being invited over by the king, imme- jdiately on his appearance, preferred an accusation jagainst Godwin for the murder of Alfred , anddemanded justice for that crime. Godwin, inorder to appease the king, made him a magni-ficent present of a galley with a gilt stern,rowed by fourscore men , who wore each ofthem a gold bracelet on his arm , weighingsixteen ounces, and were armed and cloathed inthe most sumptuous manner. Hardicanute, pleasedwith the splendour of this spectacle, quickly forgothis brother’s murder; and on Godwin’s swearingthat he was innocent of the crime, he allowedhim to be acquitted.

Though Hardicanute, before his accession,had been called over by the vows of the English,he soon lost the affections of the nation by hismisconduct; but nothing appeared more grievousto them , than his renetying the imposition of

Danegelt