Note 11 — Illustration Transcriptions:
Reading edition
Morchar, or Macher, as William Malmsbury calls him, son of Elgar, or Algar, p. 46.
b.
was made earl of Northumberland; Tostin, son of Earl Godwin, losing it for his severity: and at the end of king Edward’s life, Tostin coming out of Flanders to invade the coasts of Northumberland in a piratical manner, was repelled by the forces of Morcar, and his brother Edwin. Tostin goes into Scotland, there meets Harold Harfag, the Norwegian, with three hundred ships upon an invasion: they agree to join forces, land in Northumberland, surprise the two brothers overjoyed at their late victory, and shut them up in York city till king Harold relieved them.
Tostin, son of earl Godwin, was earl of Northumberland, and turned out, by instigation of his brother, at the end of Edward the Confessor’s life, and Morchar made earl in his stead. Morcar, and his elder brother Edwin, lived there very lovingly together, and when Harold the king was slain by William the Conqueror, offered themselves to the people, who might chuse one of them for their king. Harold and they were cousins; and they were at London at the time of the battle of Hastings: but William the Conqueror’s fortune prevailed both in getting the battle, and in getting the kingdom. Afterwards they disturbed the Conqueror by little inroads and vexations, and were sometimes taken prisoners; yet he pardoned them, and married them to his relations. At length they were slain perfidiously by their own men, and the king was much grieved at their death.