continuance._

THE EIGHT CHAPTER.


[Sidenote: HAROLD. K. Edward departed this life. An. Christi.]
King Edward being thus departed this life, the péeres of the land
were in great doubt & perplexitie to whome they might best commit the
roiall gouernement of the realme.
[Sidenote: 1065, after the account of the church of England.
_Matth. West._ _Polydor_. Edeling, that is, a noble man,
and such one as is come of the kings blood.]
For there was not anie among them that had iust title thereto, or
able and apt to take the charge vpon him. For although Edgar surnamed
Edeling, the sonne of Edward the outlaw, that was sonne of Edmund
Ironside, was at the same time latelie come into England, with his
mother and sisters out of Hungarie where he was borne: yet for that he
was but a child, & not of sufficient age to beare rule, they durst not
as then commit the gouernement of the realme vnto him, least (as some
haue thought) his tendernesse of age might first bréed a contempt of
his person, and therewith minister occasion to ciuill discord, wherby
a shipwracke of the estate might ensue, to the great annoie and
present ouerthrow of such as then liued in the same. But what
consideration soeuer they had in this behalfe, they ought not to haue
defrauded the yoong gentleman of his lawfull right to the crowne. For
as we haue heard and séene, God, whose prouidence and mightie power is
shewed by ouerthrowing of high and mightie things now and then, by the
weake and féeble hath gouerned states and kingdomes oftentimes in as
good quiet and princelie policie by a child, as by men of age and
great discretion.