I
The Danish kings who followed Canute were not like him. They were
cruel, unjust rulers and all the people of England hated them.
So when in the year 1042 the last of them died, Edward, the son
of the Saxon Ethelred, was elected king.
He is known in history as Edward the Confessor. He was a man of
holy life and after his death was made a saint by the Church, with
the title of "the Confessor." Though born in England, he passed the
greater part of his life in Normandy as an exile from his native
land. He was thirty-eight years old when he returned from Normandy
to become king.
As he had lived so long in Normandy he always seemed more like a
Norman than one of English birth. He generally spoke the French
language and he chose Normans to fill many of the highest offices
in his kingdom.
For the first eight years of his reign there was perfect peace
in his kingdom, except in the counties of Kent and Essex, where
pirates from the North Sea made occasional attacks.
[Illustration: NORWEGIAN PIRATES ON THE COAST OF KENT]
These pirates were mostly Norwegians, whose leader was a barbarian
named Kerdric. They would come sweeping down upon the Kentish coast
in many ships, make a landing where there were no soldiers, and
fall upon the towns and plunder them. Then, as swiftly and suddenly
as they had come, they would sail away homeward, before they could
be captured.
One day Kerdic's fleet arrived off the coast, and as no opposing
force was visible, the pirates landed and started toward the nearest
town to plunder it.
By a quick march a body of English soldiers reached the town before
the pirates, and when the latter arrived they found a strong force
drawn up to give them battle. A short struggle took place. More
than half of the pirates were slain and the remainder were taken
prisoners.
After the prisoners had been secured the English ships that were
stationed on the coast attacked the pirate fleet and destroyed
it.