218

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

c h A r. army , and was. approaching the king, whoin. resided, without any military force , and withoutsuspicion, Lt Glocester ! \ Edward applied forprotection to Si ward, duke of Northumberland ,and Leofric , duke of Mercia , two powerfulnoblemen, whose jealousy of Godwin’s greatness,as well as their duty to the crown , engagedthem to defend the king in this extremity. Theyhastened to him with such of their followers asthey could assemble on a sudden; and findingthe danger much greater than they had at firstapprehended, they issued orders for musteringall the forces within their governments, and formarching them without delay to the defence of theking’s person and authority. Edward, meanwhile,endeavoured to gain time by negotiation; whileGodwin, who thought the king. entirely in hispower, and who was willing to save appearances,fell into the snare; and not sensible , that heought to have no farther reserve after he hadproceeded so far, he lost the favourable oppor-tunity of rendering himself master of the govern-ment.

The English, though they had no high ideaof Edward’s vigour and capacity, bore him greataffection on account of his humanity, justice,and piety, as well as the long race of their nativekings, from whom he was descended; and theyhastened from all quarters to defend him fromthe present danger. His army was now so

J4-

Chron. Sax. p. i6z. W. Malm. p. 81.