Earl Ulf Sprakalegson had been set as protector over Denmark when King
Canute went to England, and the king had intrusted his son Hardaknut in
the earl's hands. This took place the summer before (A.D. 1026), as we
related. But the earl immediately gave it out that King Canute had, at
parting, made known to him his will and desire that the Danes should
take his son Hardaknut as king over the Danish dominions. "On that
account," says the earl, "he gave the matter into our hands; as I,
and many other chiefs and leading men here in the country, have often
complained to King Canute of the evil consequences to the country of
being without a king, and that former kings thought it honour and power
enough to rule over the Danish kingdom alone; and in the times that are
past many kings have ruled over this kingdom. But now there are greater
difficulties than have ever been before; for we have been so fortunate
hitherto as to live without disturbance from foreign kings, but now we
hear the king of Norway is going to attack us, to which is added the
fear of the people that the Swedish king will join him; and now King
Canute is in England." The earl then produced King Canute's letter and
seal, confirming all that the earl asserted. Many other chiefs supported
this business; and in consequence of all these persuasions the people
resolved to take Hardaknut as king, which was done at the same Thing.
The Queen Emma had been principal promoter of this determination; for
she had got the letter to be written, and provided with the seal,
having cunningly got hold of the king's signet; but from him it was all
concealed. Now when Hardaknut and Earl Ulf heard for certain that King
Olaf was come from Norway with a large army, they went to Jutland,
where the greatest strength of the Danish kingdom lies, sent out
message-tokens, and summoned to them a great force; but when they heard
the Swedish king was also come with his army, they thought they would
not have strength enough to give battle to both, and therefore kept
their army together in Jutland, and resolved to defend that country
against the kings. The whole of their ships they assembled in Limfjord,
and waited thus for King Canute. Now when they heard that King Canute
had come from the West to Limfjord they sent men to him, and to Queen
Emma, and begged her to find out if the king was angry at them or not,
and to let them know. The queen talked over the matter with him, and
said, "Your son Hardaknut will pay the full mulct the king may demand,
if he has done anything which is thought to be against the king." He
replies, that Hardaknut has not done this of his own judgement. "And
therefore," says he, "it has turned out as might have been expected,
that when he, a child, and without understanding, wanted to be called
king, the country, when any evil came and an enemy appeared, must be
conquered by foreign princes, if our might had not come to his aid. If
he will have any reconciliation with me let him come to me, and lay down
the mock title of king he has given himself." The queen sent these very
words to Hardaknut, and at the same time she begged him not to decline
coming; for, as she truly observed, he had no force to stand against his
father. When this message came to Hardaknut he asked the advice of the
earl and other chief people who were with him; but it was soon found
that when the people heard King Canute the Old was arrived they all
streamed to him, and seemed to have no confidence but in him alone. Then
Earl Ulf and his fellows saw they had but two roads to take; either to
go to the king and leave all to his mercy, or to fly the country. All
pressed Hardaknut to go to his father, which advice he followed.
When they met he fell at his father's feet, and laid his seal, which
accompanied the kingly title, on his knee. King Canute took Hardaknut by
the hand, and placed him in as high a seat as he used to sit in before.
Earl Ulf sent his son Svein, who was a sister's son of King Canute,
and the same age as Hardaknut, to the king. He prayed for grace and
reconciliation for his father, and offered himself as hostage for the
earl. King Canute ordered him to tell the earl to assemble his men and
ships, and come to him, and then they would talk of reconciliation. The
earl did so.