A.D. 1066. HÌE0LD ASSENTS TO WHilAil's WISHES. 137 of that district. Harold, on being thrown into prison, having, however, bribed one of the common people with the promise of a reward, secretly gave him directions to inform the duke of Normandy of what had befallen him. On hearing this, William immediately sent messengers in all haste, and told the lord of Ponthieu that Harold and his people must be sent to him immediately, free from all harm, if he wished to enjoy his future friendship in the same degree as hitherto ; he, how-ever, being unwilling to send him, once more received a command from William that he must send Harold, otherwise he would find most assuredly, that William, duke of Nor-mandy, would instantly come armed to Ponthieu for the pur-pose of taking him away with all his property, even to the utmost farthing^ Alarmed by these threats, he sent Harold with his com-panions, on which he was most honorably received by duke William, who, on hearing why he had left his country, made answer that he would be successful if it rested with him.28 He, therefore, kept Harold with him for some days, and showed himself very kind and courteous towards him, in order that by such conduct he might gain his feelings in support of his own objects. At.length he disclosed to him what his designs were, and stated that king Edward once, when in his youthful days, he was staying in Normandy, with himself then a youth, pro-mised him upon his oath, that if he should become king of Eng-land, he would grant to him, in succession to himself, the here-ditary right to the kingdom; and, in addition to this, he said : "And if you will engage to aid me in this matter, and to procure for me the castle of Dover, with the well of water there, and will give your sister in marriage to one of my nobles, and promise to send her to me at the time that shall be agreed on by us, and also, to accept my daughter in marriage, then you shall both receive your nephew safe and sound immediately, and, your brother, when I come to reign in England ; and if, by your aid, I am firmly established in that kingdom, I pro-mise that every thing that in reason you shall ask of me, you shall obtain." Harold was sensible of danger either way, and did not see how he was to escape if he did not acquiesce in the wishes of William in every respect : he, therefore, gave his as- 28 ·· Si in ipso non remaneret," hardly seems to be a correct reading here.