[Sidenote: The large dominion of K. Cnute.]
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
[Sidenote: _Alb. Crantz._]
This Cnute was the mightiest prince that euer reigned ouer the English
people: for he had the souereigne rule ouer all Denmark, England,
Norwaie, Scotland, and part of Sweiden. Amongest other of his roiall
acts, he caused such tolles and tallages as were demanded of way-goers
at bridges and stréets in the high way betwixt England and Rome to be
diminished to the halfes, and againe got also a moderation to be had
in the paiment of the archbishops fees of his realme, which was leuied
of them in the court of Rome when they should receiue their palles, as
may appeare by a letter which he himselfe being at Rome, directed to
the bishops and other of the nobles of England. In the which it also
appeareth, that besides the roiall interteinment, which he had at Rome
of pope Iohn, he had conference there with the emperour Conrad, with
Rafe the king of Burgongne, and manie other great princes and noble
men, which were present there at that time: all which at his request,
[Sidenote: Grants made to the benefit of Englishmen, at the instance
of king Cnute.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
in fauour of those Englishmen that should trauell vnto Rome, granted
(as we haue said) to diminish such duties as were gathered of
passingers.
He receiued there manie great gifts of the emperour, and was highlie
honored of him, and likewise of the pope, and of all other the high
princes at that time present at Rome: so that when he came home (as
some write) he did grow greatlie into pride, insomuch that being néere
[Sidenote: He caused his chaire to be set there, as _Matth. West._
saith.]
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._]
to the Thames, or rather (as other write) vpon the sea strand, néere
to Southhampton, and perceiuing the water to rise by reason of the
tide, he cast off his gowne, and wrapping it round togither, threw it
on the sands verie neere the increasing water, and sat him downe vpon
it, speaking these or the like words to the sea: "Thou art (saith he)
within the compasse of my dominion, and the ground whereon I sit is
mine, and thou knowest that no wight dare disobeie my commandements; I
therefore doo now command thée not to rise vpon my ground, nor to
presume to wet anie part of thy souereigne lord and gouernour." But
the sea kéeping hir course, rose still higher and higher, and
ouerflowed not onelie the kings féet, but also flashed vp vnto his
legs and knees. Wherewith the king started suddenlie vp, and withdrew
[Sidenote: The saieng of king Cnute.]
from it, saieng withall to his nobles that were about him: "Behold you
noble men, you call me king, which can not so much as staie by my
commandement this small portion of water. But know ye for certeine,
that there is no king but the father onelie of our Lord Iesus Christ,
[Sidenote: Zealouslie inough, if it had bin according to true
knowledge.]
with whome he reigneth, & at whose becke all things are gouerned. Let
vs therefore honor him, let vs confesse and professe him to be the
ruler of heauen, earth, and sea, and besides him none other."
From thence he went to Winchester, and there with his owne hands set
his crowne vpon the head of the image of the crucifix, which stood
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
there in the church of the apostles Peter and Paule, and from
thenceforth he would neuer weare that crowne nor anie other. Some
write that he spake not the former words to the sea vpon anie
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
presumptuousnesse of mind, but onelie vpon occasion of the vaine
title, which in his commendation one of his gentlemen gaue him by way
of flatterie (as he rightlie tooke it) for he called him the most
mightiest king of all kings, which ruled most at large both men, sea,
[Sidenote: Flatterie reproued.]
and land. Therefore to reprooue the fond flatterie of such vaine
persons, he deuised and practised the déed before mentioned, thereby
both to reprooue such flatterers, and also that men might be
admonished to consider the omnipotencie of almightie God. He had issue
by his wife quéene Emma, a sonne named by the English chronicles
Hardiknought, but by the Danish writers Canute or Knute: also a
daughter named Gonilda, that was after maried to Henrie the sonne of
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
Conrad, which also was afterwards emperour, and named Henrie the
[Sidenote: _Alb. Cranz._]
third. By his concubine Alwine that was daughter to Alselme, whome
some name earle of Hampton, he had two bastard sonnes, Harold and
Sweno. He was much giuen in his latter daies to vertue, as he that
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
considered how perfect felicitie rested onelie in godlines and true
deuotion to serue the heauenlie king and gouernour of all things.
He repared in his time manie churches, abbeies and houses of religion,
which by occasion of warres had béene sore defaced by him and his
father, but speciallie he did great cost vpon the abbeie of saint
Edmund, in the towne of Burie, as partlie before is mentioned. He also
[Sidenote: Which is supposed to be Barclow: for Ashdone it selfe
is halfe a mile from thence.]
[Sidenote: 1020.]
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._]
built two abbeies from the foundation, as saint Benets in Norffolke,
seuen miles distant from Norwich, and an other in Norwaie. He did also
build a church at Ashdone in Essex, where he obteined the victorie of
king Edmund, and was present at the hallowing or consecration therof
with a great multitude of the lords and nobles of the realme, both
English and Danes. He also holpe with his owne hands to remooue the
bodie of the holie archbishop Elphegus, when the same was translated
from London to Canturburie. The roiall and most rich iewels which he &
his wife quéene Emma gaue vnto the church of Winchester, might make
the beholders to woonder at such their exceeding and bountifull
munificence.
Thus did Cnute striue to reforme all such things as he and his
ancestors had doone amisse, and to wipe awaie the spot of euill
dooing, as suerlie to the outward sight of the world he did in deed;
he had the archbishop of Canturburie Achelnotus in singular
[Sidenote: Leofrike earle of Chester.]
reputation, and vsed his counsell in matters of importance. He also
highlie fauoured Leofrike earle of Chester, so that the same Leofrike
bare great rule in ordering of things touching the state of the common
[Sidenote: King Cnutes lawes.]
wealth vnder him as one of his chiefe councellors. Diuerse lawes and
statutes he made for the gouernment of the common wealth, partlie
agréeable with the lawes of king Edgar, and other the kings that were
his predecessors, and partlie tempered according to his owne liking,
and as was thought to him most expedient: among the which there be
diuerse that concerne causes as well ecclesiasticall as temporall.
Whereby (as maister Fox hath noted) it maie be gathered, that the
gouernment of spirituall matters did depend then not vpon the bishop
of Rome, but rather apperteined vnto the lawfull authoritie of the
temporall prince, no lesse than matters and causes temporall. But of
these lawes & statutes enacted by king Cnute, ye may read more as ye
find them set foorth in the before remembred booke of maister William
Lambert, which for briefenesse we héere omit.
* * * * *
_Variance amongest the peeres of the realme about the roiall
succession, the kingdome is diuided betwixt Harold the bastard sonne
and Hardicnute the lawfullie begotten son of king Cnute late
deceassed, Harold hath the totall regiment, the authoritie of earle
Goodwine gardian to the queenes sonnes, Harold is proclaimed king, why
Elnothus did stoutlie refuse to consecrate him, why Harold was
surnamed Harefoot, he is supposed to be a shoomakers sonne, and how it
came to passe that he was counted king Cnutes bastard; Alfred
challengeth the crowne from Harold, Goodwine (vnder colour of
friendlie interteinment) procureth his retinues vtter vndooing, a
tithing of the Normans by the poll, whether Alfred was interessed in
the crowne, the trecherous letter of Harold written in the name of
queéne Emma to hir two sons in Normandie, wherevpon Alfred commeth
ouer into England, the vnfaithfull dealing of Goodwine with Alfred and
his people, teaching that in trust is treason, a reseruation of euerie
tenth Norman, the remanent slaine, the lamentable end of Alfred, and
with what torments he was put to death; Harold banisheth queene Emma
out of England he degenerateth from his father, the short time of his
reigne, his death and buriall._