Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/276

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

240 ON THE LIFE AND DEATH OF EARL GODWINE. different version given by Henry of Huntingdon and his copyist Broiiiton. Florence, however, had just before given a t'-enealoiry, in which he enumerates the brothers of Eahlor- man Eadric ; "cujus fratres exstiterunt Ih'ithricus, iElfricus, Goda, iEgelwinus, iEgelwardus, iEgelnia^rus, pater Whiothi, patris Wcst-Saxoiium Ducis Godwini."^ Thierry, by omitting all mention of this last story, certainly makes his course tolerably easy, but Mr. Turner seems to accept the pedigree just given without hesitation, and apparently without considering it contradictory to the tale which he follows of Godwine's humble origin. Indeed he represents Wulfnoth in his lowly estate, as " perhaps remem- bering the high fortunes of his uncle Eadric,"^ " and hoping a similar good success for his own child." Before this,^ in recording the story of Brihtric and Wulfnoth, he calls the latter " the ftither of the Earl Godwine," and though he remarks in a note that the words are absent from some ]S. of the Saxon Chronicle, lie does not appear to doubt Wulfnoth's parentage. It would be sufficiently remarkable if the nephew of the powerful Eadric remained in the condition of a herds- man, while that chief had raised himself to such greatness, and had exalted at least one of his brothers with him ; yet this is at least possible. But possibility can hardly bo stretched so far as to identify Wulfnoth, the naval com- mander of Sussex in KJOU, with Wulfnoth, the western peasant in lOIG, Unquestionably, princes and lords, under the frown of fortune, have before now lurked in such disguises, but one who, outlaw as he was, still remained at the head of twenty ships, would be more likely' to take service under King Svend, or to continue his proceedings as Viking on his ' Dr. Lappcnbcr(» (ii. 170) speaking of -' ii. 494. Eii'lric, Hins, tlijit he " staiuls at the licad ^ ii 47!t. of all tlio laity in a cliartir of 1 Ol'J, where ' M. dc nonncchose, arguing in favour aUo H|)pi'»r thi- nunu'H of most of liis of (ioihviiie's hi-ing the Hon of C'hilil hrothcfM and ' Cioilwiiie MilcH ' " One of Wiihimtli, siiys, '• l,e Hcrviee ((Ue co tluit year in Kenibic (vi. H!4) is signed Wulliioili icndit uu roi Sweyn <n lui among others liy " Kadricus Dux " livrimt une paitie de la Holt"- <|u'il coin- " ylllfrieuH Dux," "/I'.tlulnmriiHniiniHter," inandait, et en lirulant la nsfe, ex|ilii|u<' " /l-^lhelwardus minister," " Goda njini.s- suflisainent la favi-nr ilont jouil hou tils ter," «< (iodwinuM minister. Anothrr of an])i-eH de Camit, .suc-crHsciir ile Sweyn " the name year (iii. '.'•'>!) inelndes tlu« Widtnoth very jiroliaMy joined .Svend, MignalurcM of " Kadrie dux," " yKllndnuLT hut tiiero Ih no proof that lie ilid, ho tiiat Milew," " (;odwi)ie .lil<H," " /]%thilwine if iH not fair to une it aH an argument. Mijen." Hut iH not tluH far more likely to Also Kailrie liiinHelf iH a jiroof that Cuwt li« (Jodwine, Kalilornwm of Lindehey, did not alwiiyn favour traitori* when lie meriiioneil in tin- ( 'InMuicIr an dying in had iirolii.d hy tin ni. the l.utlh; of AHnao'lori in In Hi '.