"Archbishop Ealdred and the townsmen of London would have Eadgar Child,"-- a grandson of Eadmund Ironside--"for king, as was his right by kin." But Eadwine and Morkere, the representatives of the great Mercian family of Leofric, had hopes that they might turn William's invasion to their own good, and secure their independence in the north by allowing Wessex to fall unassisted into his hands.

After much shuffling, Eadgar was at last chosen for king.

"But as it ever should have been the forwarder, so was it ever, from day to day, slower and worse." No resistance was organised.

In the midst of all this turmoil, the Peterborough Chronicler is engaged in narrating the petty affairs of his own abbey, and the question which arose through the application made to Eadgar for his consent to the appointment of an abbot.

In such a spirit did the English meet an invasion from the stoutest and best organised soldiery in Europe.
William marched on without let or hindrance, and on his way, the Lady--the Confessor's widow--surrendered the royal city of Winchester into his hands.