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HAROLD. 237

It has been continued down to our time; andthe practice was first dropped by the presentroyal family, who observed, that it could nolonger give amazement even to the populace,and was attended with ridicule in the eyes of allmen of understanding.

HAROLD.

Harold had so well prepared matters beforethe death of Edward , that he immediately steppedinto the vacant throne; and his accession wasattended with as little opposition and disturbance,as if he had succeeded by the most undoubtedhereditary title. The citizens of London werehis zealous partizans: The bishops and clergyhad adopted his cause: And all the powerful nobi-lity, connected with him by alliance or friendship,willingly seconded his pretensions. The title ofEdgar Atheling, was scarcely mentioned: Muchless, the claim of the duke of Normandy: AndHarold, assembling his partizans, received theCrown from their hands, without waiting for thefree deliberation of the states, or regularlysubmitting the question to their determina-tion ”. If any’ were averse to this measure

51 G. Pict. p. 196. Ypod. Neust. p. 456. Order. Vitalis ,p. 492. M. West. p. 221. W. Malm. p. 93. Ingulf, p. 68.Brompton, p. 957. Knygdon, p. 2339. li. Hunt. p. 210.Many of the historians fay, that Harold was regularly electedby the states: Some, that Edward left him his successor bywill.

CHAT.

III.

I05S.

January.