With the army of
the North as a rallying centre a force more numerous than that which Harold
had led might soon be gathered. But these hopes were dashed to the ground
by the treacherous Northern earls. Had one of them been chosen to sit on
the vacant throne they would doubtless have done their best to maintain
that throne, but they had been passed over, and oblivious of the fact that
it was to the South they owed the rescue of their earldoms from the sway of
the King of Norway and Tostig, they sullenly marched away with their army
and left the South to its fate.
While the cause of England was thus being betrayed and ruined, William was
advancing eastward along the coast ravaging and destroying. Romney was
levelled to the ground and its inhabitants slain. Dover opened its gates.
It is probable that most of the male population had joined Harold, and had
fallen at Senlac; and that the terrible fate of Romney had struck such
terror into the hearts of the inhabitants, who knew there was no army that
could advance to their assistance, that they surrendered at the Conqueror's
approach. To them William behaved with lenity and kindness. His severity at
Romney and his lenity at Dover had their effect. There being no central
authority, no army in the field, each town and district was left to shift
for itself; and assuredly none of them unaided could hope to offer
prolonged resistance to the Normans. As, after eight days' stay at Dover,
William advanced towards Canterbury, he was met by a deputation of the
citizens offering their submission, and soon from all parts of Kent similar
messages came in.
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