228 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

c H a p. in a manner suitable to tbe great reputationin. which he had acquired, to the relation by whichhe was connected with Edward , and to theobligations which that prince owed to his family 4 \On the return of Godwin, and the expulsion ofthe Norman favourites, Robert, archbishop ofCanterbury, had, before his departure , persuadedEdward to think of adopting William as his suc-cessor ; a counsel, which was favoured by theking’s aversion to Godwin , his prepossessionsfor the Normans , and his esteem of theduke. That prelate , therefore , received a com-mission to inform William of the king’s intentionsin his favour ; and he was the first person thatopened the mind of the prince to entertain thoseambitious hopes 48 But Edward, irresolute andfeeble in his purpose, finding that the Englishwould more easily acquiesce in the restoration ofthe Saxon line, had, in the mean time, invitedhis brother’s descendants from Hungary, with aview of having them recognized heirs to thecrown. The death of his nephew, and the inex-perience and unpromising qualities of youngEdgar , made him resume his former intentionsin favour of the duke of Normandy ; though hisaversion to hazardous enterprizes engaged him topostpone the execution, and even to keep hispurpose secret from all his ministers.

*

47 Hoveden, p. 442. Ingulf, p. 65. Chron.Mailr. p. 157.Iligden, p. 279.

48 Ingulf, p. 68. Gul. Gemef.. lib. 7. cap. Zi. Order.Yitalis, p. 492.