Chapter XXXV: Edward the Confessor

Description of the English court, after the banishment of Earl
Godwin--William, the Norman, surnamed the Bastard, and the
Conqueror, arrives in England--William's parentage--Sketch of
his father, surnamed Robert the Devil--His pilgrimage to Rome,
and death--Bold and daring character of William the Norman--
His cruel conduct to the prisoners of Alençon--His delight on
visiting England--Circumstances in his favour for obtaining
the crown of England--Return, and triumph of Earl Godwin--
England again on the verge of a civil war--Departure of the
Norman favourites--Sketch of the English court after the return
of the Saxon earl--Death of Godwin--Siward the Strong--
Rise of Harold, the son of earl Godwin--Imbecility of Edward
the Confessor--Harold's victory over the Welsh--Conduct of
Tostig, the brother of Harold--Coldness of the church of Rome
towards England--struggle of Benedict and Stigand for the
pallium--Mediation of Lanfranc--William the Norman becomes a
favourite with the Roman pontiff--Suspicious death of Edward,
the son of Edmund Ironside--Edward the Confessor suspects the
designs of William the Conqueror--Harold, the son of Godwin,
obtains permission to visit Normandy p. 296

CHAPTER XXXVI.

EARL HAROLD'S VISIT TO NORMANDY.

Harold shipwrecked upon the coast of France--Is made captive,
and carried to the fortress of Beaurain--Is released by the
intervention of William of Normandy--Harold's interview with
Duke William at Rouen--Affected kindness of the Norman duke--
William cautiously unfolds his designs on the crown of England--
His proposition to Harold--Offers Harold his daughter, Adeliza,
in marriage--Duke William's stratagem--Harold's oath on the
relics of the saints--Description of William the Norman's
courtship--Character of Matilda of Flanders--Harold's return
to England--The English people alarmed by signs and omens--
Appearance of a comet in England--Description of the death of
Edward the Confessor p. 304