EDWARD THE CONFESSOR.

and desired only to justify himself by a fair andopen trial, paved the way for his more easyadmission. It was stipulated, that he should givehostages for his good behaviour, and that theprimate and all the foreigners should be banished:By this treaty , the present danger of a civil warwas obviated , but the authority of the crownwas considerably impaired , or rather entirelyannihilated. Edward , sensible that he had notpower sufficient to secure Godwin’s hostages inEngland , sent them over to his kinsman , theyoung duke of Normandy

Godwin’s death, which happened soon after,while he was sitting at table with the king ,prevented him from farther establishing the au-thority which he had acquired, and from reducingEdward to still greater subjection iS . He wassucceeded in the government os Wefsex, Sussex,Kent, and Essex, and in the office of steward ofthe household , a place of great power, by hisson, Harold, who was actuated by an ambitionequal to that of his father, and was superior tohim in address , in insinuation , and in virtue. Bya modest and gentle demeanour, he acquired thegood-will of Edward; at least, softened thathatred which the prince had so long borne hisfamily " ; and gaining every day new partizansby his bounty and affability, he proceeded, in amore silent , and therefore a more dangerous

!t See note [E] at the end of the volume.

ir Brompton, p. 948.

II AIII.