IQQ 



tributary Sitrick (lately in rebellion") to the kingdom of Northum- 

 brian upon condition that he should espouse his sister, and, aban- 

 doning idolatry, embrace the Christian faith : which condition he 

 accepted. But, upon his death, his sons by a former infidel wife, 

 persisting in their worship of idols, Athelstan forcibly expelled them 

 from their father's kingdom ; and, while one of them took refuge 

 in Ireland, and another in Scotland, the third, Godfrid, after an 

 unsuccessful attempt to surprise York, the capital of the kingdom, 

 put to sea with the Northumbrian fleet, and betook himself to 

 maritime enterprise : till, abandoning that pursuit, he returned to 

 England, was reconciled to Athelstan, and liberally treated by him. 

 But their ancient animosity reviving, he once more launched into 

 the ocean upon some piratical expedition, the particulars of which 

 are unknown to the writers of English history ; and, as they say, 

 was never more heard of. These passages in the life of Godfrid 

 furnish facts, which, if not directly confirmatory, are at least not in- 

 consistent with the account given by Leo of the invasion of Africa by 

 the English in the tenth century, perhaps I might venture to say, 

 are of such a nature as to make Leo's narrative 'probable. 



