a ciuill life. These lawes were afterwards called the common lawes, and
also saint Edward his lawes; so much esteemed of the Englishmen, that
after the conquest, when the Normans oftentimes went about to abrogate
the same, there chanced no small mutinies and rebellions for retaining
of those lawes. But heére is to be noted, that although they were called
saint Edwards lawes, they were for the more part made by king Edgar; but
now by king Edward restored, after they had bin abrogated for a time by
the Danes.

[Sidenote: 1053 or 1054. _Hector Boet._ _Polydor_.
_Will. Malmes._ _Matth. West._ _Ran. Higd._
_ex Mariano_. _Simon Dun._]
About this time, earle Goodwine died suddenlie (as some haue
recorded) as he sat at table with the king: and vpon talke ministred
of the death of Alfred the kings brother, to excuse himselfe, he tooke
a peece of bread, and did eate it, saieng; God let me neuer swallow
this bread downe into my chest, but that I may presentlie be choked
therewith, if euer I was weetting or consenting vnto Alfreds death!
and immediatlie therewith he fell downe starke dead. Other say,
[Sidenote: This is the likeliest tale.]
that he ended his life at Winchester, where being suddenlie surprised
with sicknesse, as he sat at the table with the king vpon an Easter
monday; yet he liued till the Thursday following, and then died. His
earledome was giuen vnto his sonne Harold; and Harolds earledome,
which was Oxford, was giuen vnto Algar the sonne of Leofrike.

This Goodwine, as he was a man of great power, wise, hardie, and
politike; so was he ambitious, desirous to beare rule, and loth that
anie other person should passe him in authoritie. But yet, whether
all be true that writers report of his malicious practises to bring