such a vote was ever formally passed, but its terms would only
express what every Englishman would feel. The oath, whatever its
terms, had given William a great advantage; but every Englishman
would argue both that the oath, whatever its terms, could not
hinder the English nation from offering Harold the crown, and that
it could not bind Harold to refuse the crown if it should be so
offered.



CHAPTER VI--THE NEGOTIATIONS OF DUKE WILLIAM--JANUARY-OCTOBER 1066



If the time that has been suggested was the real time of Harold's
oath to William, its fulfilment became a practical question in
little more than a year. How the year 1065 passed in Normandy we
have no record; in England its later months saw the revolt of
Northumberland against Harold's brother Tostig, and the
reconciliation which Harold made between the revolters and the king
to the damage of his brother's interests. Then came Edward's
sickness, of which he died on January 5, 1066. He had on his
deathbed recommended Harold to the assembled Witan as his successor
in the kingdom. The candidate was at once elected. Whether
William, Edgar, or any other, was spoken of we know not; but as to
the recommendation of Edward and the consequent election of Harold
the English writers are express. The next day Edward was buried,
and Harold was crowned in regular form by Ealdred Archbishop of
York in Edward's new church at Westminster. Northumberland refused
to acknowledge him; but the malcontents were won over by the coming