North Cum.

Scotland.

of Arthur; and the traditions still floating in the recollections of the last generation, and the tales ascribed to the earthworks and fortresses where the Round Table was held, alone connects the country with the race which has entirely disappeared. Alcluid, or Dumbarton, continued to be the seat of a British monarchy, until the repeated incursions of the Danes involved the northern Cymri in the same misfortunes which had been sustained by their Saxon enemies. Alliance by marriage as well Union of as conquests subjected the northern Cumbria bria and to the Scottish Kings. Of these princes, Eocha, whose name is softened into Eugenius, and in whom we must, under either disguise, discover the more familiar name of Owen, appears in the most memorable battle of Brunnaburgh, when the combined Reguli of the north endeavoured to free themselves from their dependence upon the Anglo-Saxon empire. Athelstan triumphed; but instigated by the Danes, the Scoto-Cumbrian Kings continued their attempts to release themselves from the Saxons. In these conflicts they failed: the victory gained by Edmund over Donald, the son of Eugenius, placed Strath-Clyde, wasted and depopulated, entirely in his power.

the English

The transactions which ensued afford a most Conduct of important insight into the policy of the Anglo- King. Saxon empire. Master of the vacant throne, Edmund might have retained possession, or

of Cumbria.

granted Strath-Clyde to a favourite or a follower; but, yielding to the principle of lineage and blood, he restored the crown to the Scottish Disposition dynasty. Cumbria was re-granted to Malcolm I. as a benefice, upon condition that he should co-operate with the monarch of Britain by sea and land, and most particularly against the Danes. This engagement was ratified by an oath of fealty; but a singular rule of succession, established at an earlier period, received a new sanction. Cumbria was immediately vested in the Tanaist, or the son, designated in the lifetime of his father as his successor. For it had been established that the dominion of the Scots and of the Cumbrians should never be united in the same person, although the kingdoms should remain in the same family: Cumbria thus bearing the same relation to the Scottish crown which Wales, nominally at least, bears to the kingdom of England.

Relation of the Danes to Scotland.

The refusal of Malcolm III. to contribute to the payment of the Danegeld, alleging that he was only bound to render military service, was punished by the ravages of Ethelred. The accession of Canute afforded to Duncan, the Regulus of Cumbria, a reason for throwing off his allegiance to the English crown. But the Dane invaded Scotland: a peace was concluded upon condition that the Regulus of Cumbria should perform homage to the sovereign of Britain and his successors. Malcolm Canmore

became King of Cumbria, when his father Duncan obtained the Scottish crown.. In his person, until the birth and majority of Prince David, the antient rule of succession was suspended; and under the reign of the Confessor, the whole of these territories were vested in the Scottish Sovereign, whose distance from the seat of government, as well as his power, tempted him to be the rival rather than the subject of the Anglo-Saxon King.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CONQUEROR, FROM HASTINGS TO THE CORONATION.

1066

Anarchical

1066.

§ 1. UPON Harold's death, the several component members of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy position of reverted to that species of constitutional indethe country. pendence, which in every case ensued upon the vacancy of the crown; but, of course, with the aggravation resulting from the previous condition of the realm. The community of interest, imperfect even in prosperous times, had been greatly diminished by adversity. Poverty weakens all moral authority, even the powers of affection and of love. Northumbria, which had gradually been drifting away from the Basileus, scarcely ever recognized the son of Godwin. In Mercia, loyalty was not ardent; and of Wessex, and that portion of the Danelagh annexed thereto, we can speak more positively. A large party amongst the English considered that they had obtained their liberation from a usurper; and the first immediate consequence resulting from the battle of Hastings, was, at least in appearance, the restoration of the right royal line.

Whether Edwin and Morcar were actually

engaged in the fatal conflict, cannot be ascer- 1066 tained. At all events, they drew off their forces immediately, and advanced to London.

Un

Attempt of -the Earls on the throne.

questionably the strength and importance of
the city tended to protect its constitutional
rights; but it is remarkable that the pre-emi-
nence of the citizens, in having the right of
making the first choice, does not seem to have
been contested. Immediately upon their arrival,
the earls, or one of them, for the details of their
conduct are involved in perplexity, laboured to
obtain the throne. Claims to the royal autho-
rity, as it has been held by the line of Cerdic,
these Mercian Earls had none : like Harold, they
would have been usurpers, and yet usurpers
from necessity; but they were wise and valiant,
fair to behold, and pleasant in speech, possess-
ing the strong arm and the liberal hand, with
some of the good, and many of the specious
qualities which reap the immediate harvest of
popularity. They tried their chance, but failed.
Edgar Atheling was safe within the city. What Rival
the age of the child was, we have no exact Edgar.
account. We can ascertain, however, from au-
thentic records, that distinguished, recognized,
and respected by the Normans as the Atheling,
he was alive ninety-three years after the date
of the Conquest. At this period, therefore,
could he be more than ten years old? In-
fant as he was, however, he was proclaimed
Basileus of England by the authority of the

claimant in