Other say,
[Sidenote: This is the likeliest tale.]
that he ended his life at Winchester, where being suddenlie surprised
with sicknesse, as he sat at the table with the king vpon an Easter
monday; yet he liued till the Thursday following, and then died. His
earledome was giuen vnto his sonne Harold; and Harolds earledome,
which was Oxford, was giuen vnto Algar the sonne of Leofrike.
This Goodwine, as he was a man of great power, wise, hardie, and
politike; so was he ambitious, desirous to beare rule, and loth that
anie other person should passe him in authoritie. But yet, whether
all be true that writers report of his malicious practises to bring
himselfe and his sonnes to the chiefe seat of gouernement in the
kingdome, or that of hatred such slanders were raised of him, it may
of some perhaps be doubted; because that in the daies of king
Edward (which was a soft and gentle prince) he bare great rule and
authoritie, and so might procure to himselfe euill report for euerie
thing that chanced amisse: as oftentimes it commeth to passe in such
cases, where those that haue great dooings in the gouernement of the
common wealth, are commonlie euill spoken of, and that now and
then without their guilt.
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