d to be bribed to keep away.

62. The Northmen invade France.

The Danish invasion of England was really a part of a great European
movement. The same Northmen who had obtained so large a part of the
island (S56) had, in the tenth century, established themselves in
France.

There they were known as Normans, a softened form of the word
"Northmen," and the district where they settled came to be called from
them Normandy. They founded a line of dukes, or princes, who were
destined, in the course of the next century, to give a new aspect to
the events of English history.

63. Sweyn conquers England; Canute[1] (1017-1035).

Early in the eleventh century Sweyn, the Dane, conquered England
(1013), and "all the people," says the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" (S99),
"held him for full king." He was succeeded by his son Canute (1017).
He could hardly be called a foreigner, since he spoke a language and
set up a government differing but little from that of the English.

[1] "Cnut," a shortened form of Canute.

After his first harsh measures were over he sought the friendship of
both Church and people. He gave the country peace. Tradition reports
that he rebuked the flattery of courtiers by showing them that the
inrolling tide is no respecter of persons; he endeavored to rule
justly, and his liking for the monks found expression in his song:

"Merrily sang the monks of Ely
As Cnut the King was passing by."

64. Canute's Plan; the Four Earldoms.

Canute's plan was to establish a great northern empire embracing
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and England. To facilitate the government of
so large a realm, he divided England into four districts,--Wessex,
Mercia, East Anglia, and Northumbria--which, with their dependencies,
embraced the entire country. (See map facing p. 38.)

Each of these districts was ruled by an earl[1] invested with almost
royal power. For a time the arrangement worked well, but eventually
discord sprang up and imperiled the unity of the kingdom. After
Canute's death two of his sons divided England between themselves;
both were bad rulers.

[1] Earl ("chief" or "leader"): a title of honor and of office. The
four earldoms established by Canute remained nearly unchanged until
the Norman Conquest, 1066.

65. Restoration of the Saxon or English Kings; Edward the Confessor
(1042-1066).

On the occasion of the Danish conqueror Sweyn (S63), Ethelred II, the
English King, sent his French wi