3-o8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

I

chap. and declared to him, that , as they had alwaysiv. been ruled by regal power , they desired tofollow, in this particular, the example of theirancestors , and knew of no one more worthythan himself to hold the reins of government \Though this was the great object, to whichthe duke’s enterprise tended , he feigned todeliberate on the offer; and being desirous, atfirst , of preserving the appearance of a legaladministration , he wished to obtain a moreexplicit and formal consent of the English nation 4 :But Aimar of Aquitain, a man equally respectedfor valour in the held , and for prudence incouncil , remonstrating with him on the dangerof delay in so critical a conjuncture, he laid asideall farther scruples , and accepted of the crownwhich was tendered him. Orders were imme-diately issued to prepare every thing for theceremony of his coronation ; but as he was yetafraid to place entire confidence in the Londoners,who were numerous and warlike, he meanwhilecommanded fortresses to be erected in order tocurb the inhabitants, and to secure bis personand government 7 .

SnoAND was not much in the duke’s savour,both because he had intruded into the see on theexpulsion of Robert, the Norman, and becausehe possessed such influence and authority over theEnglish * as might be dangerous to a new

f Gul. flics. p. 205. Ord. Vital. p. 503.

t Gul. Pictav. p. 205. 7 Ibid. ‘ Eadmer, p. 6.

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