an's beginnings when I am to praise his end. For that life is more
laudable of which the foul beginning is checked by a glorious close,
than that which begins commendably but declines into faults and
infamies. For Erik, upon the healthy admonitions of Ansgarius, laid
aside the errors of his impious heart, and atoned for whatsoever he had
done amiss in the insolence thereof; showing himself as strong in the
observance of religion as he had been in slighting it. Thus he not only
took a draught of more wholesome teaching with obedient mind, but wiped
off early stains by his purity at the end. He had a son KANUTE by the
daughter of Gudorm, who was also the granddaughter of Harald; and him he
left to survive his death.

While this child remained in infancy a guardian was required for the
pupil and for the realm. But inasmuch it seemed to most people either
invidious or difficult to give the aid that this office needed, it
was resolved that a man should be chosen by lot. For the wisest of the
Danes, fearing much to make a choice by their own will in so lofty
a matter, allowed more voice to external chance than to their own
opinions, and entrusted the issue of the selection rather to luck than
to sound counsel. The issue was that a certain Enni-gnup (Steep-brow),
a man of the highest and most entire virtue, was forced to put his
shoulder to this heavy burden; and when he entered on the administration
which chalice had decreed, he oversaw, not only the early rearing of the
king, but the affairs of the whole people. For which reason some who
are little versed in our history give this man a central place in its
annals. But when Kanute had passed through the period of boyhood,
and had in time grown to be a man, he left those who had done him the
service of bringing him up, and turned from an almost hopeless youth
to the practice of unhoped-for virtue; being deplorable for this reason
only, that he passed from life to death without the tokens of the
Christian faith.

But soon the sovereignty passed to his son FRODE. This man's fortune,
increased by arms and warfare, rose to such a height of prosperity
that he brought back to the ancient yoke the provinces which had once
revolted from the Danes, and bound them in their old obedience. He also
came forward to be baptised with holy water in England, which had for
some while past been versed in Christianity. But he desired that his
personal salvation should overflow and become general,