In fact, a young man who could leave his home and his father, and abandon the cause of his countrymen forever under such circumstances, must have had something besides generosity toward a fugitive enemy to impel him.
Godwin was soon found to possess a large portion of that peculiar spirit which constitutes a soldier.

He was ambitious, stern, energetic, and always successful.

He rose rapidly in influence and rank, and in the course of a few years, during which King Canute triumphed wholly over his Saxon enemies, and established his dominion over almost the whole realm, he was promoted to the rank of a king, and ruled, second only to Canute himself, over the kingdom of Wessex, one of the most important divisions of Canute's empire.

Here he lived and reigned in peace and prosperity for many years.

He was married, and he had a daughter named Edith, who was as gentle and lovely as her father was terrible and stern.