THE DANES IN ENGLAND:--The Saxons come to the assistance of the Britons--Seize on Britain--Formation of the Kingdom of England--The first inroad of the Danes--Death of Ethelred, and accession of Alfred the Great to the throne of England--Alfred in the swineherd's cottage--Visits the Danish camp--Drives the Danes from England--Sweyn, King of Denmark, invades England--Is bribed to retire--Massacre of St. Brice--Sweyn again invades England--His sudden death--Canute succeeds him--Treachery and punishment of Edric Streone--Canute's marriage--Death of Canute--Accession of Harold Harefoot--His death--Accession of Hardicanute--His death CHAPTER IV. EARL GODWIN:--Ulf and Godwin--Canute's partiality to Godwin--Godwin becomes Earl of Wessex--Marries the daughter of Sweyn, King of Denmark--Godwin espouses the cause of Hardicanute--Godwin procures the crown of England for Edward the Confessor CHAPTER V. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR:--His parentage--Death of his brother Alfred--Edward demands justice of Hardicanute--Ascends the English throne--Edward and the leper--Edward marries Edith, daughter of Godwin CHAPTER VI. THE KING AND THE KING-MAKER:--Edward's Norman friends--Dislike of the Normans by the English--Quarrel between Eustace of Boulogne and the townsmen of Dover--Godwin's quarrel with Edward--Godwin is outlawed--William of Normandy visits England--His reception--Godwin returns to England--Is restored to power--Godwin's awful death CHAPTER VII. MATILDA OF FLANDERS:--William of Normandy determines to marry Matilda of Flanders--Matilda's pedigree--Her father's acquiescence in William's proposal--Her refusal to the espousal--William's love-making--Matilda's consent is obtained--The Pope's opposition to the marriage--William overcomes the Pope's scruples--Obtains a dispensation--Marries Matilda of Flanders CHAPTER VIII. SIWARD THE DANE:--His appearance--The mystic banner--Siward's reception by Hardicanute--Tostig's raillery and its punishment--Battle between Eadulph, Earl of Northumberland, and Siward--Siward is sent by Edward the Confessor to defend the Northumbrian coast--Death of Siward CHAPTER IX. HAROLD, THE SAXON KING:--Harold's personal appearance--Harold's first appearance in national affairs--His great military reputation--Harold proposes to visit Normandy--King Edward tries to dissuade him--He sets out--His cordial reception by Duke William--Harold accompanies William in a war against the Bretons--William extorts a promise from Harold to aid him in obtaining the English crown--Death of Edward the Confessor CHAPTER X.