216 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap. hatred of the father was transferred to that prin-iii. cess; and Editha , though possessed of manyamiable accomplishments , could never acquire theconfidence and affection of her husband. It iseven pretended , that , during the whole courseof her life, he abstained from all commerce oflove with her; and such was the absurd admira-tion paid to an inviolable chastity during those1048. ages, that his conduct in this particular is highlycelebrated by the monkish historians, and greatlycontributed to his acquiring the title of faint audconfessor '.

The most popular pretence, on which Godwincould ground his disaffection to the king and hisadministration, was to complain of the influenceof the Normans in the government; and a declaredopposition had thence arisen between him andthese favourites. It was not long before thisanimosity broke into action. Eustace, count ofBologne, having paid a visit to the king, passedby Dover in his return : One of his train , beingrefused entrance to a lodging , which hadbeen assigned him, attempted to make his way byforce, and in the contest he wounded the masterof the house. The inhabitants revenged thisinsult by the death of the stranger; the countand his train took arms, and murdered the wound-ed townsman ; a tumult ensued; near twenty

52 W. Malm. p. 80. Higden , p. 277. Abbas Rieval-p. 366. 377. Matth. West, p. 221. Chron. Thorn. Wykes.p. si. Anglia Sacra, vol. 1. p. 241.