them under Edmund and some under Canute.

Edmund, after five pitched battles, offered to stay bloodshed by
personally fighting Canute at any place where they could avoid police
interference, but Canute declined, on what grounds it is not stated,
though possibly on the Polo grounds.

[Illustration: SONS OF EDMUND SENT TO OLAF.]

A compromise was agreed to in 1016, by which Edmund reigned over the
region south of the Thames; but very shortly afterwards he was murdered
at the instigation of Edric, a traitor, who was the Judas Iscariot of
his time.

Canute, or "Knut," now became the first Danish king of England. Having
appointed three sub-kings, and taken charge himself of Wessex, Canute
sent the two sons of Edmund to Olaf, requesting him to put them to
death; but Olaf, the king of Sweden, had scruples, and instead of doing
so sent the boys to Hungary, where they were educated. Edward afterwards
married a daughter of the Emperor Henry II.

Canute as king was, after he got the hang of it, a great success, giving
to the harassed people more comfort than they had experienced since the
death of Alfred, who was thoroughly gifted as a sovereign.

He had to raise heavy taxes in order to 'squire himself with the Danish
leaders at first, but finally began to harmonize the warring elements,
and prosperity followed. He was fond of old ballads, and encouraged the
wandering minstrels, who entertained the king with topical songs till a
late hour. Symposiums and after-dinner speaking were thus inaugurated,
and another era of good feeling began about half-past eleven o'clock
each evening.

[Illustration: THE SEA "GOES BACK" ON CANUTE.]

Queen Emma, the widow of Ethelred, now began to set her cap for Canute,
and thus it happened that her sons again became the heirs to the throne
at her marriage, A.D. 1017.

Canute now became a good king. He built churches and monasteries, and
even went on a pilgrimage to Rome, which in those days was almost
certain to win public endorsement.

Disgusted with the flattering of his courtiers, one day as he strolled
along the shore he caused his chair to be placed at the margin of the
approaching tide, and as the water crept up into his lap, he showed them
how weak must be a mortal king in the presence of Omnipotence. He was a
humble and righteous king, and proved by his example that after all the
greatest of earthly rulers is only the most obedient servant.

He was even then the sovereign of Engla