buried in the church of St. Olave, at York. Tosti, second son of Earl Godwin, minister of state, succeeded Siward in the Earldom of Northumbria, but his rule was so cruel and tyrannical, that, in 1065, as we read in the Saxon Chronicle, the Thanes and people revolted, and furiously attacking his house, he very narrowly escaped, with his family, and fled into Flanders. The Northumbrians seized his treasures, and appointed Morcar to be their Earl. Harold, brother of Tosti, being appointed by the King to vindicate the royal authority, and quell the insurrection, began his march, while Morcar, at the head of the Northumbrians, advanced southward. The two armies met at Northampton, but happily an arrangement was effected without bloodshed. Harold on being convinced of his brother's misconduct, abandoned his cause, and interceded with the King in favour of the insurgents. The Confessor confirmed Morcar in his Earldom; and Harold afterwards married Morcar's sister, and obtained from the King the government of Mercia for Morcar's brother, Edwin.

King Edward died on the 5th of January, 1066, and was buried on the following day in the abbey church of Westminster, which he had founded. During his reign the most approved Danish laws were incorporated with the customs, maxims, and rules of the Britons, the West Saxons, and the Mercians. This code became common throughout England, and were the laws so fondly cherished by our ancestors in succeeding ages, and so often promised to be adhered to by princes, as the surest means of securing their popularity,

The Malmsbury historian, speaking of the English at this remarkable period, says, "They wore clothes that did not reach beyond the middle of the knee, their heads were shorn, and their beards were shaven, only the upper lip was always let grow to its full length. Their arms were loaded with golden bracelets, and their skins dyed with painted marks."

The above-mentioned Harold was proclaimed King by an assembly of the Thanes and citizens of London, on the death of Edward, and the day of the Confessor's funeral witnessed the coronation of the new monarch. The ceremony of the coronation was performed by Aldred, Archbishop of York, Stigand, the Archbishop of Canterbury, being then suspended. The southern counties cheerfully acquiesced in the succession of Harold, but the Northumbrians in their pride refused to be bound by the act of those, whose military qualities they deemed inferior to their own. Harold, accompanied by Wulstan, Bishop of Worcester, hastened to the north, and soon won the affection of the Northumbrians. The news of Edward's death, and Harold's accession, no sooner reached William, Duke of Normandy, nephew to the deceased

monarch, than he assembled his council, and expressed to them his determination to pursue by arms his pretensions to the crown of England. Tosti (Harold's brother), the outlawed and exiled Earl of Northumberland, encouraged by the Duke of Normandy, and his father-in-law, Baldwin, Earl of Flanders, now attempted to dethrone him. With 40 ships, well manned, supplied by the latter nobleman, he made a descent upon Yorkshire, entered the Humber, and committed the most horrible ravages on its banks.

Morcar, Earl of Northumbria, with his brother Edwin, Earl of Chester, marched expeditiously against the invader, and pursued him into Lincolnshire, where they defeated him, and compelled him to flee to his ships. He then sailed to Scotland, and after vainly endeavouring to excite the King of that country to join him in the invasion of England, his vindictive spirit impelled him to apply for assistance to Harrald (surnamed Hardrada, or the Stern), King of Norway, with whom he was more successful. That great warrior immediately equipped, for the invasion of England, the most mighty armament that ever left the coast of Norway. It consisted of 200 sail, besides store ships and vessels of smaller size, to the number of 500 in all. Harrald touched at the Orkneys, where he was joined by Tosti and a large reinforcement of adventurers. Having burnt and plundered the town of Scarborough, and received the submission of the people of the coast of Yorkshire, from the Tees to the Humber, the Norwegians entered the latter river for the purpose of obtaining possession of York. They landed at the village of Riccall, ten miles from York, and after ravaging the country in the most cruel manner, they commenced their march to the latter place. A desperate attempt to save the city was made near the village of Fulford, by the Earls Edwin and Morcar. The Norwegians were drawn up with their right flank to the river, and their left to a morass. The impetuosity of the English burst through the line; but they, in their turn, were overwhelmed by a fresh body of forces from the ships; and more of the fugitives perished in the water than had fallen by the sword. Edwin and Morcar escaped to York, whither Tosti and his forces followed, and the city was taken by storm. Harold, the English King, who had been preparing to meet the threatened attack of William the Norman, having heard of the unexpected invasion of Hardrada, lost not a moment in marching against the aggressor, and within four days after the late battle, he, at the head of a powerful army, was in the neighbourhood of York.

On the 23rd of September, 1066, he arrived with his forces at Tadcaster,

* Daniel, Hist. de France, vol. iii. p. 90.

and the following day he marched towards York. At the King's approach the invaders withdrew from York, taking with them 500 of the principal inhabitants as hostages, and leaving 150 of their men to prevent the English from taking peaceable possession of the city'; they moved about eight miles from York, to Stamford Bridge (long afterwards known as "the Bridge of Battle "), where they secured a very strong position with the main body of their army, on ground gently rising from the river Derwent-the river flowing in front, and a narrow wooden bridge forming the means of communication between the opposite sides. The river here runs nearly south, and is about eight miles distant from its junction with the Ouse. The position of the invaders had several advantages; it was easily defended, commanded a view of the country for some distance around, and it afforded a communication with the fleet, then lying in the Ouse.

"The order of the battle displayed considerable knowledge of the military art; with both wings bent backward until they met, the army formed a close rather irregular circle, everywhere of equal depth, with shield touching shield, so as to form a rampart of bucklers. The royal standard, called very appropriately, 'The Land Ravager,' was planted in the centre, and by it the King and his chosen companions had generally their station. This arrangement was adopted as the best means of defence against the superior strength of the English in cavalry. The first, or outer line, presented to the enemy a complete circle of spears, which were held obliquely, at a considerable elevation, their ends resting on the ground; this position required the soldiers to bend one knee; the second line stood erect, holding their lances in readiness to pierce the breasts of the horses, should they attempt to break through. The archers were placed so as to assist them in repelling these attacks. The Norwegian King, mounted on a black charger, with a white star in its forehead, rode round the circle, encouraging his men, and was rendered conspicuous by his dazzling helmet, and the sky blue mantle he wore above his coat of mail." The English King having pursued the invaders, resolved to attack them, notwithstanding all the advantages of their position.

On the 25th of September, at day-break, he commenced hostilities, and the battle raged with increasing fury until three o'clock in the afternoon. The armies were nearly equal in numbers, each consisting of about 60,000 men, most of them chosen warriors, full of the most savage bravery, and distinguished for their strength and courage. Harold, in his first attempt to force the passage of the river, appears to have routed a detatchment on the western

* Battle Fields of Yorkshire.

P

side, which was placed there to guard the bridge. Whilst the English were pursuing the fugitives, and attempting to cross the river, historians tell us, that a single Norwegian, of gigantic strength and power, placed himself upon the bridge, and there by his extraordinary valour opposed the whole English army for three hours, killing with his own hand forty of Harold's soldiers. After having scornfully refused an invitation to surrender, with an assurance of the amplest clemency from the English, we are told that a Saxon boatman rowed himself under the bridge, and thrusting his spear up through the woodwork, pierced the Norwegian terribly inwards, under his coat of mail.* The English then rushed on with resistless impetuosity, and the conflict that ensued was dreadful. No quarter on either side was allowed by this immense multitude in arms, so that it is with good reason said that this action is one of the most bloody that is recorded in the annals of England; and it is stated that after the lapse of fifty years the spot was still whitened with the bones of the slain. For a long time the issue of the contest appeared doubtful. The attack of the English was furious, and it was met with equal spirit by the Norwegians. At length the generalship of Harold proved superior in the field to the Norwegian chief. "He ordered his horsemen to

retreat, in order to draw the enemy from their position and break their ranks; the stratagem had the desired effect; the Norwegians quitted their position; the English horsemen returned to the charge, and obtained a speedy victory over their now disordered and half armed enemies; for they had thrown aside their shields and breastplates to join in the pursuit. The King of Norway was pierced in the neck with an arrow, and instantly expired. Tosti was also slain, and the greater part of the army, with all the chiefs, perished, fighting like madmen." The English pursued the remains of the routed army in their disordered flight towards their ships, “and from behind hotly smote them." Many were pushed into the rivers and drowned; and others reached their vessels, some of which were boarded and burned, and the whole fleet was seized by the victors. Olaf, son of Hardrada, and Paul, Earl of Orkney, who had been left in command of the fleet, were taken prisoners; and here the magnanimity of the English King

* It must confessed, that the exploits of this huge and valiant warrior has more the appearance of romance than of sober history, though it is recorded by all who have written an account of this battle. Drake tells us, that the inhabitants of Stamford Bridge "have a custom, at an annual feast, to make pies in the form of a swill, or swine tub, which tradition says was made use of by the man, who struck the Norwegian on the bridge instead of a boat;" and Professor Phillips, speaking of this champion of the bridge, says, "an annual boat-like cake is the village monument to his fortunate enemy."

+ Battle Fields of Yorkshire.

shines conspicuously, for after receiving back the citizens of York, who had been detained as hostages on board the Norwegian ships, he permitted all who had survived the slaughter, to depart to their own country, in a part of their shattered fleet, having first obliged them to swear never to disturb the British dominions again. But 20 ships were sufficient to carry back the miserable remains of an army, which it took more than 500 to convey hither. Camden tells us, that the spoil taken by the victors was immense; and that the gold alone, which the Norwegians left behind them, was as much as twelve men could carry on their shoulders. It is stated that Harold disgusted his army, by refusing to distribute among them any portion of this spoil. But Harold's triumph was of short duration; for after his return to York, and whilst he was seated at a royal banquet, surrounded by his nobles, celebrating his great victory, a messenger entered the hall, and announced the arrival and descent of the Duke of Normandy and an immense army, at Pevensey, in Sussex, He immediately commenced his march southward, and encountered the enemy at Hastings, where, in bloody strife, he lost his crown and life, in that, his last and most desperate battle.

Norman Period.

Some historians assert that Edward, surnamed the Confessor, named, with his dying breath, William, Duke of Normandy, his nephew, as his successor. At the time of that King's death, a report had been circulated, that on his death bed he had appointed Harold to succeed him; and the latter was called to the throne by the voice of the people. However this point may be settled, we have the fact that William of Normandy claimed the English crown, fought for, and obtained it. He employed eight months in the most active preparations for the invasion, and by the beginning of August he found himself at the head of 50,000 cavalry, besides a smaller body of infantry. To furnish transports for this numerous army, every vessel in Normandy had been put in requisition. But the supply was still inadequate, and many individuals sought the favour of their Prince, by building ships at their own expense, in the different harbours and creeks. The Normans landed without opposition, at Pevensey, on the 29th of September, 1066; marched immediately to Hastings, and threw up fortifications at both places, to protect their ships, and secure a retreat in case of disaster. In the beginning of October Harold was feasting and rejoicing at York; and on the 13th of the same month he had reached the camp of the Normans. The