Edward the Confessor never makes an appearance in Macbeth, but he is mentioned. According to an article from the BBC, Edward was NOT a typical king. He was SO religious that he was likened to a monk with a crown. He was so devout that he remained celibate even after he married (Maybe his wife was a saint.) Edward also started the tradition of "The Healing Touch", a practice by royalty of touching sick people thinking it will cure them. This practice lasted for 700 years (How many years without anti-bacterial soap?--Gross).
Anyway, Edward is used by Shakespeare to contrast Macbeth's ability as a king. Whereas Edward is a good king and heals his country, Macbeth is a terrible king and makes his country sick.
BTW--both Macbeth and Edward were childless--Edward because he was celibate, Macbeth, because he was married to a woman who turned herself into a man through soliloquy.
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