HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap. and the distinction between the two nationsIII. gradually disappeared. The Danes were inter-spersed with the Englissi in most of tire provinces;they spoke nearly the same language ; they dif-fered little in their manners and laws ;domestic dissensions in Denmark prevented ,for some years , any powerful invasion fromthence, which might awaken past animosities;and as the Norman conquest, which ensued soonafter, reduced both nations to equal subjection,there is no farther mention in history of anydifference between them. The joy , however ,of their present deliverance made such impressionon the minds of the English, that they institutedan annual festival for celebrating that greatevent; and it was observed in some counties ,even to the time of Spellman

The popularity, which Edward enjoyed onhis accession , was not destroyed by the first actof his administration , his resuming all the grantsof his immediate predecessors; an attempt, whichis commonly attended with the most dangerousconsequences. The poverty of the crown con-vinced the nation, that this act of violence wasbecome absolutely necessary; and as the loss fellchiefly on the Danes, who had obtained largegrants from the late kings, their countrymen ,on account of their services m subduing thekingdom, the English were rather pleased to seethem reduced to their primitive poverty. The

31 Spellm. Glossary in verbo Hccday.