Robert and Bishop Ulf. The death of Godwine the next year placed
the chief power in the hands of his son Harold. This change
undoubtedly made Edward more disposed to the national cause. Of
Godwine, the man to whom he owed his crown, he was clearly in awe;
to Godwine's sons he was personally attached. We know not how
Edward was led to look on his promise to William as void. That he
was so led is quite plain. He sent for his nephew the AEtheling
Edward from Hungary, clearly as his intended successor. When the
AEtheling died in 1057, leaving a son under age, men seem to have
gradually come to look to Harold as the probable successor. He
clearly held a special position above that of an ordinary earl; but
there is no need to suppose any formal act in his favour till the
time of the King's death, January 5, 1066. On his deathbed Edward
did all that he legally could do on behalf of Harold by
recommending him to the Witan for election as the next king. That
he then either made a new or renewed an old nomination in favour of
William is a fable which is set aside by the witness of the
contemporary English writers. William's claim rested wholly on
that earlier nomination which could hardly have been made at any
other time than his visit to England.


We have now to follow William back to Normandy, for the remaining
years of his purely ducal reign. The expectant king had doubtless
thoughts and hopes which he had not had before. But we can guess
at them only: they are not recorded.



CHAPTER IV--THE REIGN OF WILLIAM IN NORMANDY--A.D. 1052-1063