Page "Edward the Confessor" Paragraph 7

Edward spent a quarter of a century in exile, probably mainly in Normandy, although there is no evidence of his location until the early 1030s.

He probably received support from his sister Godgifu, who married Drogo of Mantes, count of Vexin in about 1024.

In the early 1030s Edward witnessed four charters in Normandy, signing two of them as king of England.

According to the Norman chronicler, William of Jumièges, Robert I, Duke of Normandy attempted an invasion of England to place Edward on the throne in about 1034, but it was blown off course to Jersey.

He also received support for his claim to the throne from a number of continental abbots, particularly Robert, abbot of the Norman abbey of Jumièges, who was later to become Edward's Archbishop of Canterbury.

Edward was said to have developed an intense personal piety during this period, but modern historians regard this as a product of the later medieval campaign for his canonisation.

In Frank Barlow's view " in his lifestyle would seem to have been that of a typical member of the rustic nobility ".

He appeared to have a slim prospect of acceding to the English throne during this period, and his ambitious mother was more interested in supporting Harthacnut, her son by Cnut.