Knud „Lavard"

ON ST. CANUTE LAVARD, KING OF THE OBOTRITES, DUKE OF SCHLESWIG.

IN THE YEAR 1133.

Canute, Duke of Schleswig in Denmark (S.)

From various sources.

Section I. The lineage and holiness of Canute.

[1] There were two King Canutes enrolled in the number of the Saints by the public authority of the Church: the first, inscribed in the tables of the Roman Martyrology at the 7th of the Ides of January, is venerated on July 10, on which day we shall give his life; the second is customarily venerated on this day St. Canute, nephew of the other St. Canute. and again on June 25 by the Church of Schleswig and others. This one was the nephew of the first through his brother, not his son, as Baronius supposed, who at the year 1164, number 50, wrote that the father of Valdemar was this younger Canute, and his grandfather the elder Canute.

[2] The lineage of both Canutes is set forth more fully by the writers of Danish affairs; it will suffice for us to have indicated it briefly, His lineage. so that what will presently be said may be better understood. From Estrid, or Estride, the sister of Canute the Great (who subjugated England and married Emma, the widow of King Ethelred and the mother of St. Edward, as was narrated on January 5 in the Life of Edward), from that sister, I say, was born Svein, surnamed Estridsen, King of Denmark after Magnus the Norwegian, son of St. Olaf. He had no offspring from ^a lawful marriage bed but had many natural sons, of whom altogether five were Kings of Denmark after him: Harald, St. Canute the Martyr (the father of Blessed Charles the Good, Count and Martyr of Flanders, of whom we treat on March 2), Olaf, Eric the Good, and Nicholas. St. Canute was the son of Eric the Good. When Nicholas, King of Denmark (whose son Magnus had killed St. Canute), was slain by the Jutes in vengeance for that murder, Eric Emune, ^a natural son of Eric the Good, obtained the kingdom; he defeated and killed in battle Magnus, the murderer of his brother St. Canute. Eric was succeeded by Eric Lam, the son of his sister Anna; after him Svein, born to Eric Emune, the murderer of Archbishop Eskil, who, forced by his own people to admit as co-rulers Canute the son of Magnus and grandson of Nicholas, and Valdemar the son of St. Canute and grandson of Eric the Good, treacherously killed Canute; he was defeated and killed in battle by Valdemar, against whom he was also plotting. From Valdemar descended the Kings of Denmark who ruled for many centuries thereafter. Enough about the lineage of St. Canute; now concerning his public veneration at the altars.

[3] His name in the Martyrologies. Molanus in his Additions to Usuard, January 7: "On the same day, St. Canute, Duke of Denmark and Martyr, son of King Eric, who suffered in the year 1130." The Cologne Martyrology: "On the same day, St. Canute, Duke and Martyr." The Carthusians of Cologne in their Additions to Usuard: "Likewise, Canute, Duke of Slavia, Martyr, son of the King of Denmark." The German Martyrology: "St. Canute the Martyr, Duke of the Slavs, son of the King of Denmark, canonized under Alexander III. He suffered in the year 1130." The manuscript Florarium: "Canute, Duke and Martyr." Petrus Galesin: "On this same day, St. Canute, Duke of Slavia, Martyr, who was enrolled in the number of the Saints under Pope Alexander III." Ferrarius records him on the day before, that is, January 6, in these words: "At Roskilde in Denmark, St. Canute, Duke and Martyr." He then notes in his annotations that St. Canute the King, uncle of this one, was killed on ^a different day, but that the Duke seems to have been erroneously placed on this day. We shall treat of the Translation below.

[4] In the ancient Breviary of the Church of Schleswig, this prayer is recited on the feast of St. Canute: "O God, in whose faith the glorious Duke Canute, walking firmly, was violently taken from an innocent life; grant, we beseech Thee, that just as he was condemned to an undeserved death, so we may deserve, by his merits and prayers, to escape the death we have deserved. Through the Lord," etc. Another prayer on the day of the Translation, which we shall give later, is found in the same Breviary. Why he is called ^a Martyr. Someone may perhaps wonder why Canute is called ^a Martyr in the cited Martyrologies and elsewhere below, since he was not killed for the sake of faith or justice, although he was innocent. But not ^a few others who were wickedly slain by evil men have also been considered Martyrs, as we shall show in their proper places. And it was the exercise of virtue and the favor of God that were the cause of Magnus's hatred against Canute, just as of Cain against Abel.

Section II. The kingdom and duchy of St. Canute.

[5] Who the Slavs and Obotrites were. The Obotrites, Wends, and Slavs occupied the northern provinces of Germany on the Baltic Sea, having advanced from the eastern region beyond the Oder and Vistula — whether into territories left empty by the Suebi and Vandals who had gone to foreign parts, or rather by driving out or subjugating the inhabitants and absorbing them into one nation with themselves. They were all called Slavs in general; and the same language was common to them all, which the Bohemians, Muscovites, Ruthenians, Poles, Croats, and others still use today, though deflected into various dialects. Among these Slavs in the north of Germany, moreover, several peoples are enumerated — whether the entire nation had previously coalesced from these, or one nation had been divided into several principalities: certainly various Dukes and Kings ruled over them. The Obotrites especially held the territory of Mecklenburg and also Wagria, having acquired the name, as some write, from their multicolored garments. Those who inhabited Pomerania and the March of Brandenburg bore the specific name of Slavs, which was otherwise common to all. It is not sufficiently agreed among authors whence the Vandals, commonly called Wenden, derived their nomenclature. Hadrianus Junius discusses this in his Batavia, Chapter 21. Johannes Angelius Werdenhagen in his Commentaries on Hanseatic Affairs, Part 3, Chapters 9, 10, 22, 23, etc., enumerates various cities of Vandalia which at this time belong to the Duchies of Mecklenburg and Pomerania. We have brought together these points selectively from the most authoritative writers (which others who treat of the migrations of nations set forth more fully and distinctly), so that, since St. Canute is called Duke of Slavia, King of the Obotrites, and of the Vandals, it may be understood over which peoples he presided. From him certainly descended the Kings of Denmark, who to the present day write themselves Kings of the Vandals, as Krantz also observed in the previous century in Book 3, Chapter 30 of his Vandalia.

[6] Upon the death of Henry, son of Godescalc and Sirita (who was Canute's aunt), the principate of the Slavs passed to Canute, St. Canute, King of the Obotrites; as Henry had stipulated while living, and Canute received the title of King of the Obotrites from Lothair II, who began to reign after the death of Henry V in the year 1125. But Canute had previously purchased the Duchy of Schleswig from his uncle Nicholas, as material for the exercise of virtue, since he was compelled to keep perpetual watch at the borders of Denmark against the Slavs and Saxons, perpetual enemies.

[7] Duke of Schleswig. The Duchy of Schleswig is ^a province of southern Jutland, whose capital is the episcopal city of Schleswig, which was formerly called Haiteby, or Hedeby, named after Queen Hetha. Thus Ethelweard the Englishman in Book 1 of his Chronicle: "Furthermore, Old Anglia is situated between the Saxons and the Jutes, having ^a chief town which in the Saxon language is called Schleswig, but according to the Danes, Haithaby." It is also found to have been called Sliestorp. It was once ^a wealthy and populous city. It took its name from the river Slia, or an inlet of the sea. For inlets of the sea, as Johannes Adolphus Cypraeus — an excellent man and most dear friend of mine while he lived — writes in Chapter 2 of his History of Schleswig, or the curved parts of the shore caused by the incursions of the sea, are called by Danish sailors "ein wick." What "wick" means. And Saxo in Book 7 interprets the harbor "Herwig" in Latin as "the inlet of armies," in these words: "Hako, bringing his fleet into the harbor which in Danish is called Herwig, in Latin the Inlet of Armies, disembarks his soldiers." Many such place names occur everywhere that end in the syllable "wick," such as Kentwijk or Quentovic, ^a trading post in Belgium at the mouth of the river Quantia, or Canche; which name some incorrectly derive from the Latin word "vicus," as if it were called ^a "village on the Quantia," when it was ^a trading post at the inlet of the Quantia.

Just as Canute received the duchy from his uncle Nicholas, so also the Dukes of Holstein (to whom Wagria and part of the Obotrites and the Eastern Saxons, or East-phalians, are subject) still receive the Duchy of Schleswig in fief from the Kings of Denmark.

Section III. Those who wrote of the deeds of Canute.

[8] Writers on St. Canute: Helmold. Various writers have described the deeds of St. Canute. Closest to his time was Helmold, ^a disciple, as he himself acknowledges, of Gerold, the first Bishop of Lubeck, who was created in the year 1163, when the bishopric of Oldenburg was transferred to Lubeck; that was the thirtieth year from the death of St. Canute, as Albert writes, the Abbot of the Cistercian monastery of St. Mary at Stade, Albert, who, having left the abbacy, entered the Order of St. Francis. He, in his Chronicle, at the year 1133 and the following year, describes the life of St. Canute in the same words as Helmold, with ^a few omissions here and there. The same events are related more briefly, transcribed from Helmold, in the Slavonic Chronicles of an unknown author, Slavonic Chronicles, published by the care of Erpold Lindenbrog, in Chapter 17. This Chronicle is carried down to the year 1488, in which the author lived. These authors favor the Vandals or Slavs and especially touch upon the deeds of St. Canute among them. Saxo Grammaticus. Danish affairs are more carefully described by Saxo Grammaticus, himself ^a Dane from Zealand, Provost of the Church of Roskilde, who flourished about the year 1200.

[9] Life of St. Canute. We give ^a twofold life: one excerpted from the Chronicle of Helmold, the other from the history of Saxo. Before Helmold we prefix the Lessons of the Ecclesiastical Office of St. Canute formerly recited on this January 7 in the diocese of Schleswig, transcribed from the ancient Breviary of that diocese; and to Saxo we append what we have collected from various sources concerning the enrollment of St. Canute among the Saints, and the elevation and translation of his body; and finally other Lessons customarily recited on June 25, from the cited Breviary.

[10] Other writers. Besides the cited writers, an unknown author of ^a compendious history of the Kings of Denmark, published from manuscripts by the care of Lindenbrog, treating of Nicholas the uncle of St. Canute, writes thus: "Nicholas, the fifth son of Svein. He had ^a son named Magnus, by his wife Margaret, daughter of the King of Sweden — ^a most cruel and impious man — who also killed St. Canute the Martyr and Duke, and likewise his brother Harald. This Nicholas, overcome in war by Eric Emune, when his son Magnus had been killed, fled to Schleswig, where he was killed by the Jutes in vengeance for Duke Canute, who was most dear to the Jutes, in the year of the Lord 1135."

[11] The Annals written by an unknown author about the year 1288 and published by the same Lindenbrog also mention his murder by Magnus. Likewise the Book of Danish Ballads, the Chronicle of Holstein, and the Chronological Compendium on the affairs and origin of the Kings of Denmark by, as they say, Eric of Pomerania, King of Denmark — the latter is cited by Johannes Isacius Pontanus in Book 5 of his History of the Kings of Denmark under Nicholas, the seventy-first King; the former by Johannes Adolphus Cypraeus in his Annals of the Bishops of Schleswig, Chapters 21 and 23. In these places both authors excellently praise St. Canute and describe his life and murder. His paternal uncle Hieronymus Cypraeus also illuminates this history in his annotations on Helmold, which we have read only as cited by his nephew.

[12] I return to the older writers. Albert Krantz, formerly Professor of Sacred Theology at Hamburg and Dean of the College of Canons, who died in the year 1517, describes the deeds of St. Canute most copiously. In Book 3 of his Vandalia, Chapters 27 and the following ten, and in Book 5 of his Denmark, Chapters 1, 4, 7, and the six following, he portrays St. Canute admirably, following Saxo in Danish history and Helmold and Albert of Stade in Vandal history. He mentions the same in Book 5, Chapter 28, and Book 6, Chapters 2, 3, and 4, of his Saxony. After Krantz comes Johannes Magnus, the brother of Olaus Magnus, Archbishop of Uppsala in Sweden, who died at Rome in the year 1544. In his history of the Goths and Swedes (over whom Magnus, the murderer of St. Canute, ruled as King), Book 18, Chapters 14 and 16, he narrates Canute's death, and his canonization in Book 19, Chapter 7, and in Book 2 of the Lives of the Archbishops of Uppsala, under Archbishop Stephen. Baronius mentions him in his Notes on January 7, and in Volume 12, at the year 1164, number 50, he records his canonization. Johannes Angelius Werdenhagen praises his goodness in Part 3, Chapter 22 of his Hanseatic Affairs, and elsewhere. Finally, the life of St. Canute was written at length by Ranuccio Pico, Secretary to Duke Odoardo Farnese of Parma and Piacenza, and published in Italian in his Mirror of Princes in the year 1622.

[13] The age of St. Canute. Concerning his age, the years he lived, and when he was killed, the following may be established. The more common opinion is that his parents died on the island of Cyprus about the year of Christ 1105, on their return from their journey to Jerusalem; at which time we estimate that he was ^a boy of eight or ten years, and was raised under the tutelage of Skyalmon. Krantz in Book 3, Chapter 28, of his Vandalia writes that Henry, Prince of the Obotrites, died in the year 1122 and that St. Canute assumed the administration on behalf of his sons. But how then was he crowned King of the Obotrites by Emperor Lothair (as Krantz himself reports along with others), since the Empire was not transferred to Lothair until long after the death of Henry V, which occurred in June of the year 1125? Albert of Stade and the unknown author of the Slavonic Chronicle place this coronation of St. Canute as King of the Obotrites in the year 1133, in which same year they describe his murder. Cypraeus from the Book of Danish Ballads, Molanus in his Additions to Usuard, and Ranuccio Pico in his life, hold that he was killed in the year 1130. Johannes Magnus in Book 18, Chapter 15, of his History of the Goths writes that about the year 1139 King Ragnvald of the Goths was killed, whom Magnus, the murderer of St. Canute, had succeeded before this murder was committed, as will be clear below from Saxo; but since Lothair died in that year or the preceding one, these events necessarily occurred earlier. We judge that St. Canute was killed about the year 1133, having been crowned King by Lothair some years before. In addition to those cited, the Historians of the Kings of Denmark, who write that Nicholas was killed in the year 1135, support this view.

SUMMARY OF THE LIFE

From the Breviary of Schleswig.

Canute, Duke of Schleswig in Denmark (S.) BHL Number: 1554, 1556

[1] The virtues of St. Canute. Blessed Canute, son of King Eric, made Duke of Jutland by God's disposition, girded his sword upon his thigh. He scattered invaders of the realm, destroyed robbers, and hanged thieves, and in ^a short time freed his country from all persecution. In all things he prospered, because the hand of the Lord was with him. He was devout and zealous in divine matters, valiant and courteous in secular affairs. He was rightly beloved by God and men.

[2] Wherefore Magnus, son of King Nicholas, blinded by envy, sought to destroy the Duke from the land by treachery. It happened meanwhile that the Duke was accused before the King. Then the King also, favoring false suggestions, confronted him at ^a council at Ribe with these charges: Accused before the King, he is acquitted. "You have introduced certain innovations contrary to the customs of the land, and in Slavia you have usurped the title of King against me." When the King had heard Canute's responses on these matters (for the King was ^a simple man and could not easily be moved), he dismissed the accusers, commending the Duke's deeds as being very good.

[3] At that time, as the feast of the Nativity of the Lord approached and the King's court was to be held at Roskilde, Duke Canute, invited to the feast, was hastening to go; He goes to Roskilde for the assembly. his wife, foreseeing the outcome, urged him to abandon the journey. But the innocence of his heart gave the just man confidence to proceed. Crossing over, he came to the King's court, where he was received with honor.

[4] Magnus, therefore, to whom Canute entrusted himself too trustingly, plotted day and night how to deliver him to death. Relying on the counsel of this treacherous Henry Skatelaer, Magnus conspires against his life: he bound three nobles to his cause, in whom above all others he had confidence for doing harm. Then he consulted the Duke as though his intimate friend, saying: "Faithful brother above all mortals, since I have found you without any falsehood, I have determined to arrange certain affairs by your counsel. I wish you to meet me alone in ^a more secluded place, where, with no one to interfere, we may be able to settle what needs to be deliberated." Canute put faith in the words of his false brother and replied: "Assign the place and time, for I am ready in all things to obey you."

[5] He draws him into an ambush and kills him. On the day after the Epiphany of the Lord, at first light, Magnus, armed together with his followers, came to the wood in which he had arranged to commit the fratricide, and sent ^a treacherous messenger to the Duke, commanding him to fulfill with haste what he had faithfully promised. St. Canute, therefore, hastening to the place, saw the traitor wandering alone through the forest; who immediately rushed to meet him, kissed him, and embraced him — by that kiss of peace he bound himself to the office of Judas the betrayer, saying: "Brother, let us sit there." Sitting with him, and secretly noticing the shape-shifter wearing ^a coat of mail beneath his cloak, Canute said: "Good brother, why do you bear arms in ^a time of peace?" The traitor answered: "I am bound to repay my enemy according to his deed, and I am at present prepared for vengeance." Now he could conceal his crime no longer, but said with hatred: "Canute, whose is Denmark?" Canute answered in like manner, saying: "Brother, whose is Denmark but your father's and my uncle's, as long as it pleases God?" To which Magnus replied: "Not so. All follow after you; you are taking from us our position and our people; and between us it can better be divided in this way." Looking around, the Duke saw armed men and said: "Brother, He who knows all things knows that I have never harmed you or yours by word or deed. And why have you done this?" At this the Saint tried to rise, but the traitor, shamefully seizing him by the hood of his cloak, split his head with ^a sword from the left ear to the right eye and exposed his brain. Then the others fixed their lances in his side and made him ^a Martyr of Christ.

LIFE FROM HELMOLD.

Canute, Duke of Schleswig in Denmark (S.)

By Helmold.

CHAPTER I.

The education, dignity, and wars of Canute.

[1] Having described the death of Henry, Prince of the Obotrites, and the slaughter of both his sons Zwentibold and Canute, and of his grandson Zwinike, after civil wars, Helmold continues in Book 1, Chapter 50, of his Chronicle of the Slavs: "After this the principate of the Slavs was transferred to the most noble Prince Canute, Canute is raised under his uncle the King. son of Eric, King of the Danes. For Eric, ^a most powerful King, when he had devoted himself to the journey to Jerusalem, entrusted the kingdom together with his son Canute to his brother Nicholas, having received an oath that, if he should not return, he would hand over the kingdom to his son when he had come of age. When therefore fate carried off the King as he was returning from Jerusalem, Nicholas, although born of ^a concubine, obtained the kingdom of the Danes, because Canute was still an infant. And Nicholas also had ^a son named Magnus. These two scions were thus raised in royal and magnificent fashion for future commotions of wars and the ruin of many Danes."

[2] "When Canute had begun to grow up, fearing that he could easily be overwhelmed by the plots of his uncle, he crossed over to Emperor Lothair He goes to Lothair, Duke of Saxony. and remained with him for many days or years, treated with full honor as befitted royal magnificence. Thence returning to his homeland, he was kindly received by his uncle and endowed with the Duchy of all Denmark. He is made Duke of Denmark. And the man of peace began to pacify the region, removing outlaws from the land; and he was especially beneficent to the people of Schleswig."

[3] "It happened that robbers were captured in the heath that lies between the Schlei and the Eider and brought before Canute. He punishes criminals. When he had condemned them to hanging, one of them, wishing to save his life, proclaimed that he was Canute's kinsman and descended from the royal stock of the Danes. His witty word and deed. To which Canute said: 'It is disgraceful for our kinsman to suffer the death of commoners; we ought to bestow distinction upon him.' And he ordered that ^a solemn hanging be given to him on ^a ship's mast."

[4] He is made King of the Obotrites. "Meanwhile it entered his mind that the principate of the Slavic kingdom was vacant, since Henry had died and his sons had been destroyed. He therefore went to Emperor Lothair and purchased with much money the kingdom of the Obotrites, that is, all the power with which Henry had been invested. And the Emperor placed ^a crown on his head, that he might be King of the Obotrites, and received him into homage."

[5] "After this Canute crossed into the land of the Wagrians and occupied the hill which is called from ancient times Alberg, and set up small dwellings there, intending to fortify ^a castle at that place. He wages various wars. And he allied to himself every strong man in the land of the Holsatians and made incursions with them into the land of the Slavs, killing and slaying all who opposed him. He also led into captivity Pribislav, the kinsman of Henry, and Niklot, the chief of the land of the Obotrites, and placed them at Schleswig under guard, binding them with iron shackles, until, having been ransomed by money and sureties, they should accept the conditions imposed upon them. Frequently also turning aside into the land of the Wagrians, he lodged at Faldera and showed himself friendly to Vicelin and all dwelling there, promising them good things if the Lord should direct his affairs in Slavia. Coming also to Lubeck, he caused the church to be dedicated which Henry had built, with the venerable priest Ludolph and the others who had been assigned to that place from Faldera in attendance."

p. On Lubeck, that most noble emporium and the foremost of the Hanseatic cities, see Petrus Bertius, Book 3 of his German Affairs, Werdenhagen, Part 3, Chapters 12 ff. of his Hanseatic Affairs, and other writers on northern affairs.

CHAPTER II.

The murder of Canute and its vengeance.

[6] After some intervening passages, Helmold continues in Chapter 51: "About that time it happened that Canute, King of the Obotrites, came to Schleswig to hold ^a formal conference with his uncle Nicholas. He seats himself as equal to his uncle Nicholas. When the people had come to the assembly and the elder King had sat upon the throne clothed in royal attire, Canute sat opposite him, himself also wearing the crown of the kingdom of the Obotrites and surrounded by ^a retinue of guards. But when the King his uncle saw his nephew in royal pomp, neither rising before him nor offering ^a kiss in the customary manner, he concealed the affront and went over to him to offer ^a greeting with ^a kiss; and Canute, meeting him halfway, made himself in every respect the equal of his uncle in both rank and dignity. This deed brought deadly hatred upon Canute."

[7] "For Magnus, the son of Nicholas, sitting beside his mother at this spectacle, was inflamed with incredible anger — it is beyond words — his mother saying to him: 'Do you not see that your nephew, having assumed the scepter, now reigns? Magnus conspires against him. Consider him therefore ^a public enemy, who while your father still lives has not feared to usurp the royal title for himself. If you dissemble any longer and do not kill him, know that you will be deprived by him of both life and kingdom.' Goaded therefore by these words, he began to devise plots to kill Canute. They are reconciled. When King Nicholas perceived this, he summoned all the Princes of the realm and endeavored to reconcile the quarreling youths. When the dissensions were thus inclined toward peace, oaths of alliance were sworn on both sides."

[8] "But these pacts were firm on Canute's side, smeared with deceit on Magnus's side. Magnus kills him. For as soon as Magnus had probed his spirit with feigned sincerity and considered him free of every suspicion of harm, he asked Canute to meet him for ^a private conference. Canute's wife dissuaded him from going out, fearing an ambush and also disturbed by ^a dream she had seen the previous night. Yet the faithful man could not be restrained, but as had been agreed, he went to the appointed place, accompanied by only four men. Magnus was present with the same number of men, and embraced and kissed his nephew, and they sat down to discuss business. Without delay the ambushers rose from their hiding places and struck and killed Canute; cutting his body limb from limb, they were eager to sate their cruelty even upon the dead."

[9] "When Emperor Lothair heard this sinister news, he and his wife Rikenza were greatly saddened, Magnus appeases Emperor Lothair. because ^a man most closely bound to the Empire by friendship had fallen. And he came with ^a great army near the city of Schleswig, to the most famous rampart of Danevirke, to avenge the grievous death of that excellent man Canute. Magnus sat opposite with an immense army of Danes, ready to defend his land. But terrified by the valor of the German soldiers, he purchased impunity from the Emperor with immense gold and homage."

[10] Eric, Canute's brother, prepares vengeance. "When Eric, the brother of Canute, born of ^a concubine, saw that the Emperor's anger had cooled, he began to arm himself in vengeance for his brother's blood, and running by land and sea he gathered ^a multitude of Danes who abhorred the impious murder of Canute. Taking the royal title, he began with frequent wars to attack Magnus; but he was defeated and put to flight. Whence Eric was also called 'Hasenvoeth,' that is, 'Hare's Foot,' on account of his constant flight. At last driven from Denmark, he took refuge in the city of Schleswig. And the people there, mindful of the benefits that Canute had bestowed upon them, received the man, prepared to endure death and destruction for his sake. Wherefore Nicholas and his son Magnus ordered all the people of the Danes to march down to battle at Schleswig, and the siege grew immense — yet in vain, for he gained neither the city nor the enemy. For when winter and the siege were relaxed together, Eric escaped and came to the maritime region of Skane, everywhere lamenting the innocent murder of his brother and his own calamities. When Magnus heard that Eric had appeared, as summer approached he directed an expedition to Skane with an innumerable fleet. But Eric had taken his position opposite, supported by the inhabitants, though in small numbers. For the people of Skane alone had resisted all the Danes. When therefore Magnus on the holy day of Pentecost pressed his battle line to the attack, He defeats and kills Magnus in battle. the venerable bishops said to him: 'Give glory to the God of heaven, have reverence for so great ^a day, and rest today; you shall fight tomorrow.' But despising their counsel, he joined battle. And Eric led out his army and met him with ^a strong hand. And Magnus fell on that day, and all the Danish forces were struck down by the men of Skane and annihilated."

[11] "And Eric, made illustrious by this victory, earned ^a new name, so that he was called Eric Emune, that is, 'the Memorable.' Moreover, the elder King Nicholas, having escaped by ship, came to Schleswig and was struck down by the men of the city in favor of the victor. He becomes King of Denmark. And the Lord avenged the blood of Canute, whom Magnus, the violator of the oath he had sworn, had killed. And Eric reigned in Denmark and begot by ^a concubine named Thunna ^a son called Svein. And Canute also had ^a noble son, Valdemar. Magnus too had begotten ^a Canute. And these royal offspring remained for the Danish peoples as occasions for exercise, lest perhaps, having lost the use of fighting, they should at some time grow insolent. For they excelled only in civil wars. After the death of Canute, surnamed Lavard, King of the Obotrites, Pribislav and Niklot succeeded in his place, dividing the principate between them, one governing the province of the Wagrians and Polabians, the other that of the Obotrites."

LIFE FROM SAXO GRAMMATICUS.

Canute, Duke of Schleswig in Denmark (S.)

By Saxo Grammaticus.

CHAPTER I.

The generous disposition and marriage of St. Canute.

[1] Having narrated the murder of the holy King Canute of Denmark, Saxo Grammaticus records that Olaf his brother succeeded him on the throne; Canute's father Eric, King of Denmark: and that Eric, who had always favored Canute, had escaped by flight to Sweden with Queen Botilda; and that after Olaf's death he returned to his people and assumed the kingdom. "And Eric," he says, "had sons Harald, Canute, and Eric: but the first is said to have been born of ^a concubine, the second in wedlock, and the third in adultery."

[2] Then, as Eric was about to set out for Jerusalem to fulfill ^a vow, he bestowed the role of King in ^a provisional capacity upon his son Harald, whom ^a more advanced age had made ripe for the honor. "But to Skyalmon the White, ^a man of most splendid and blameless distinction, His tutor Skyalmon the White: to whom he had entrusted the administration not only of all Zealand but also of Rugia, which he had made tributary to himself, he assigned the office of carrying out the education of Canute. But Eric, being of lower birth, he embraced with less careful attention and placed under guardians of lesser power."

[3] When Eric died on the island of Cyprus together with his wife (as Saxo continues in Book 13), his brother Nicholas was raised to the kingdom, Ubbo his elder brother yielding voluntarily. Then Margaret, daughter of Ingo, King of the Swedes, and wife of King Nicholas, wishing to create greater favor among kinsmen for her son Magnus through the advantage of marriage alliances, Wife Ingiburga united to Canute in marriage Ingiburga, the daughter of her sister.

[4] Meanwhile Henry, son of Godescalc, Prince of the Vandals, by Siritha the sister of King Nicholas, having been unjustly despoiled of his maternal goods by Nicholas, began to act as ^a fierce claimant for their recovery. In ^a battle fought by Nicholas against him with little success, Canute is saved in battle by ^a soldier. Canute, having lost the firmness of his footing through the extreme severity of his wounds, experienced the most ready loyalty of ^a soldier. This man, lest his lord be intercepted by the enemy, did not hesitate to dispel Canute's peril at his own risk. For having deliberately ordered his companions to flee, he himself, by feigning with his body and moving more slowly in his course, offered his hands to the pursuing Slav to be bound; then, seizing the reins of the horseman as he rode up close, with the help brought by his companions he stripped the barbarian of his horse. Having obtained it, he immediately used it to aid Canute's extreme weakness. Thus the outcome was happy for courage that was as dangerous as it was cunning."

[5] "At that time, those sent by Canute to transfer from Zealand to Fyn the money that his tutor had preserved under the title of ^a deposit, when they saw from their ship, equidistant from both shores, that pirates were approaching from afar, He bears the loss of his treasure with equanimity. concealed the purse fastened by ^a rope beneath the waves. Finally, when they realized they were too weak in oarsmanship, caught up in despair of flight, they cut the cord and preferred to leave the ancient wealth of the Kings to the sands rather than to the enemy. Although Nicholas, crossing from Fyn to Zealand, watched this from ^a distance, he was unable to come to the aid of those in danger, because he was using small boats unsuitable for rowing. Afterwards, when he saw Canute wearing ^a cheerful expression, he reproached the merriment of his face on account of the recent loss of his ancestral and paternal wealth, saying that it would be very expedient for him to grieve. Canute said that he was not at all disturbed by this fortune, but replied that through its benefit he had received the supreme occasion for liberality: His notable saying. for as before he had not dared to take anything from the accumulated store of paternal wealth, so henceforth he would distribute abundantly whatever came in. For riches are the greatest nourishment of avarice; whoever intends to hoard them cannot have leisure for generosity." By this utterance he showed that he commanded money, not money him. Of which the chief proof was what follows.

CHAPTER II.

The Duchy of Canute: wars: peace established.

[6] "Since, on account of the most frequent and fiercest incursions of the neighbors, no one dared accept the benefice of the prefecture of Schleswig, even when offered, He purchases the Duchy of Schleswig. Canute sought this perilous honor from his uncle not out of desire for wealth but out of confidence in his own virtue; and since he could not obtain it for free, he sold part of his patrimony and acquired at ^a price ^a position that others feared — judging that the only profitable military service was one by which the reward of glory and renown could be won. Thus the King made the honor, which was ^a source of dread to the lazy, available for purchase to virtue; but the buyer placed more profit in the pursuit of military glory than in the accumulation of wealth."

[7] "At the very beginning of his newly received power, he sent legates to Henry, saying that he would gladly negotiate peace with him, provided that the damages to Jutland were first compensated and the spoils restored by him. After dispatching these envoys, He offers peace to the enemy. he meanwhile — as if foreknowing the response — assembled ^a force not only of his own men but also of friends from neighboring lands, and resolved to follow the return of his legates with arms. Henry replied that he would neither cultivate friendship with the Danes nor cease from claiming his maternal inheritance. Upon receiving this response, Canute again sent legates to him, to publicly sever all intermediary communion of peace. Henry, laughing at their embassy, said that Canute was like ^a horse impatient with its rider, and that he himself would take care to put ^a bridle on his impetuosity."

[8] He attacks the enemy's fortification by night. "Hearing this, Canute, with great speed but the least possible noise, set out on ^a march by night, and abstaining from plunder and destruction so that his approach would not be detected, reached Henry's fortification at dawn. Henry, caught off guard by so sudden an incursion, prepared neither to take up arms nor to defend himself with his garrison; but immediately trying the river near the walls on horseback, he eluded the enemy by the single interval of the water, and was glad that he had preferred to entrust his safety to the river rather than to the town. When Canute saw that he had already gained the farther bank, he asked him mockingly whether he was wet. When Henry in turn asked why he was marching like that, Canute replied that he had come to collect the bridle that Henry had promised. Henry, understanding that the threats he had recently uttered were being thrown back at him through the wit of the reply, answered the insult with ^a joke: 'You seem to me to resist so strongly with the power of your heels that you can neither be touched nor held.' Then Canute first laid waste the fortress and then the cultivated lands of the rest of the region. A second time also, having renewed his forces, He devastates the enemy's territory. he engulfed all of Slavia in slaughter and fire, and not only emptied his own country of the enemy but also the enemy of his strength — so much so that he left the one who had been accustomed to provoke unable even to defend himself."

[9] "At last, when he had weakened all of Henry's forces by his prudence and bravery, moved by the bond of blood by which he was closely related to him, he acted as his public enemy but privately as his friend. For on one occasion, having dismissed his army and accompanied by only twenty horsemen, With ^a few men he goes to the enemy to reconcile him with the King. he directed his course to the place where he had learned Henry was staying, having sent men ahead to bring his greetings. Henry, saying that the enemy was flattering him falsely, immediately set about discovering where Canute was. When they reported that he was at the gate, Henry himself, stunned by the news, prepared to overturn by force of hand the table at which he happened to be reclining for dinner. Then the envoys, swearing that the Duke's presence came from peaceful intent, dispelled the fear falsely conceived by the persistence of their assurances. When Henry believed them, he checked his thought of flight with ^a display of affection. Indeed, leaning on the table with tears streaming down his face, he said that Denmark would be unfortunate when it lacked such ^a man; and that he himself would henceforth cultivate Canute's friendship with sincere fidelity. Thus the love of kinship compelled him both to forget his own misfortune and to acknowledge his enemy's virtue, making him as forgetful of his own fortune as he was ready to praise another's. Then, embracing Canute in his presence, he offered tears no less freely than ^a feast. For looking more attentively at his present gentleness than at past injuries, he set the indulgence of ^a single kindness above the accumulation of losses."

[10] "Nor did Canute ungratefully receive his grief, which had sprung from piety. Indeed, placing more pleasure in creating peace than in enjoying ^a banquet, and beginning to act as mediator, as it were, Peace is established by Canute's great prudence. he bade Henry seek the favor of his uncle, and at last obtained his consent by perseverance in admonition. For Henry assigned to Canute the possession of his maternal estate, for the recovery of which he had borne arms against the Danes, on condition of ^a payment of ^a price; and Canute transferred the same to the King on the same terms on which he had received it, and then paid to Henry the money he had received from the King."

d. The Schlei.

CHAPTER III.

The Principate of Slavia conferred upon him. Brothers reconciled.

[11] Canute is made heir by the Prince of the Slavs. "By whom he was afterwards also summoned to ^a banquet and received, Henry affirming that on his previous visit he had been served less attentively than was fitting. Moreover, Henry, judging that Canute had recently bestowed upon him life and safety, bequeathed Slavia to him with the firmness of an oath. To this was added the fact that for waging wars with the Germans, by whom Slavia was chiefly harassed, he distrusted the abilities of his own sons, and preferred by the deliberate freedom of his own judgment to designate an heir mature in bravery, rather than to leave his patrimony, under ^a natural but feeble heir, to be overrun by foreigners. When he made this offer, Canute declared that he would bring upon himself the stain of impiety by the contempt of undeserving children, and that he would refuse to avail himself of such unjust promises. At last he was overcome by the most persistent entreaties of Henry, who borrowed the reason for his plan from the slothfulness of his sons."

[12] "Warned also by Henry that the favor of the Emperor was greatly needed, since Slavia appeared to be counted among his benefices, Canute sent him ^a horse with golden spurs as ^a gift, and made the offering, already handsome in itself, more venerable to the recipient by the unusual ornaments on its hooves. I would believe that the Emperor then placed more praise in the giver's ingenuity than in the gift, He wins the Emperor's favor. since he saw the metal of the highest value offered the more gloriously for being treated the more casually. When Henry had died, Canute possessed the province bequeathed to him with no one objecting."

[13] Harald, Canute's illegitimate brother, turns to brigandage. "Meanwhile Harald, since he was regarded as neither distinguished at home nor celebrated abroad, desiring to relieve his lack of virtue with an abundance of profits, drove his mind, brimming with wickedness, into the lowest abyss of degradation. He used slaves for robberies and thefts. He applied the labors of his servants to brigandage. The spoils of the neighborhood were spent on the trappings of his retainers; cattle were used for their provisions. He spent the summer in piracy, treacherous alike to citizens and foreigners. Moreover, to menace Roskilde more harmfully, he erected ^a fortification opposite it and filled it with ^a throng of the most sordid dependents. And so, having plundered the rich produce of the countryside, he ravaged the urban areas with equal malice through his servants — who, stealing into the taverns secretly by night, carried off whatever goods took their fancy with impunity. Meanwhile others pressed drawn swords to the throats of their hosts and threatened death unless they endured the injury patiently. This violent thievery reduced the supreme wealth of the city to the most extreme straits of domestic ruin."

[14] He is harassed in various ways for his crimes. "The province, goaded by such provocations of injustice, with spirits inflamed by indignation, set about laying avenging hands on Harald's goods, requiting spoils with spoils, plunder with plunder. For it seemed to be not seizing another's property but recovering its own. Harald himself, unable to hold the land safely, escaped the onslaught of the terrified multitude by ship. Canute, observing him to be most rapacious of others' goods and everywhere bent on the most vicious gains, said he was very like his grandfather's bird, which pieced together its nest from feathers of every kind of fowl, only to have it hurled down by ^a sudden whirlwind. Thus Harald, made ^a plunderer of all, would provide plunder from himself to all, and would undoubtedly pay for the spoils of others at the risk of his own."

[15] His brother Eric rises against him. "But Eric had ^a gentle disposition toward his fellow citizens. When he demanded the portion of the paternal estate due to him, he was repelled by his brother Harald, who denied that one born of adultery could claim ^a share of the inheritance. Moved by this, as was just, he began to act as ^a fierce invader of Harald's goods, and considered it ^a point of honor to avenge his injuries through his brother's spoils. He heaped his plunder at Arvak, storing splendid wealth in ^a squalid and neglected place. Harald, attacking him there unexpectedly by night, when he learned that he had escaped by flight and that he did not have enough time to linger over the plunder, set fire to the building and preferred to consume in flames ^a house full of his own goods rather than leave it untouched for the plunderer."

[16] Canute reconciles them. "When this was discovered, Canute, desiring to check the quarrels that had arisen from contempt and fearing that the father's splendor would fade in his degenerate sons, strictly commanded both to come to Schleswig and threatened that if they refused, they would be deprived of parts of their persons. Then, rebuking them fraternally in their presence, with ^a careful examination of the case he carried out ^a most equitable distribution of the patrimony between them and judged that both Eric and Harald should share in the paternal goods."

CHAPTER IV.

The beginnings of hatred and envy against him.

[16] "At the same time, the wife of Henry the son of Svein, Canute is suspected of incest. loathing her husband's company with immense disgust, put on another's garments and stole away from her home in the dead of night. A certain young man (as report has it), having gained close familiarity with her through his attentions, cunningly contrived to lead her to love of himself. Then, lest the affair be revealed to the peril of both, having allured her with feminine wiles, he secretly carried her off dressed in male attire. Her husband, following by chance-found clues, discovered her at Aalborg in familiar garb — her lover having fled — and brought her home. But reckoning that this disgrace had originated from ^a secret plan of Canute's, he pursued the innocence of that most upright man with silent stirrings of suspicion, and branded an innocent man."

[17] "Meanwhile, when the King of the Swedish territories had died, the Goths dared to confer the sovereignty — the entire disposition of which belonged to the Swedes — upon Magnus, Magnus, Canute's cousin, becomes King of Gothia. seeking to augment their own dignity at the expense of another's prerogative. But the Swedes, treating their authority with contempt, did not permit the ancient prerogative of their nation to be laid aside at the envy of ^a somewhat more obscure people. Therefore, looking to the form of their ancient dignity, they annulled the title unjustly conferred by the election of ^a new King. This new King, soon killed by the Goths, yielded the power to Magnus by his death. And Magnus fulfilled the desire for marriage that had come upon him by requesting the daughter of Bokisclav, the ruler of the Poles. He marries the daughter of the Duke of Poland. After she was betrothed to him through intermediaries, he soon brought ^a fleet, raised from the territory subject to his father's authority, against Slavia, whose King Wartisclav had waged long hostilities with the Danes and Poles. Here Nicholas began to besiege the city of Orna, and forced it to buy off the siege by treaty. Thence sailing to Julinum, he met Bokisclav equipped with ^a great force. Strengthened by his troops, he achieved ^a swift capture of the town; then, leaving his ally in victory, he carried off the bride bestowed upon his son."

[18] "Wartisclav, seeing the Slavic realm exhausted by the intolerable burden of devastation, sought peace through ^a conference. When this proved unsuccessful, he approached the departing Danes with ^a similar supplication at Strela; and when, relying on pledges of peace, he had boarded the King's ship at the King's own invitation, he was prevented from leaving by the malicious instigation of the King's retainers and treated as ^a prisoner. Canute ensures that the pledge given to the enemy is honored. Canute publicly complained of this matter at the assembly and earnestly began to urge the King not to indulge more in the effects of another's treachery than in his own temperance, nor to entangle an enemy who had trusted his good faith in captivity, thereby depriving both the enemy of liberty and himself of the perpetual splendor of fame. For if the King did not release the captive, ^a private crime would become ^a public disgrace to the nation." Thus, employing effective persuasion, he freed both his friend from oppression and his lord from infamy. This most just verdict of Canute, approved by the votes of the entire assembly, provided ^a great stimulus for the envy of others.

[19] "When the fleet was dismissed, it was decided that the nuptial rites should be held at the city of Ribe. For that city has ^a harbor frequently visited by ships, which brings ^a splendid variety of goods to the town. When Canute, in Saxon attire, walked more elegantly dressed than the rest, Henry, his eyes clouded with envy and unable to endure the splendor of another's dress, said in an altercation that arose between them that Canute's flank would be no safer in purple than against swords. Canute replied that he would be no safer even in sheepskins: He repels an insult with ^a joke. thus he avenged the attack on the splendor of his attire more handsomely with an urbane reproach of rusticity than with threats or insults. And so he was content to answer the reproach of foreign clothing with ^a jest about domestic garb."

[20] "Afterward, having roamed the eastern parts in piracy, when he had brought home splendid spoils and therefore hoped to receive advancement in dignity, he found accusation instead of favor, being charged by the King with having taken plunder in Swedish territory. Magnus, emulating the valor thus bravely displayed with ^a similar type of prowess, He is reproached for ^a deed well done. among other trophies of his achievements arranged to bring home to his country hammers of extraordinary weight, which they called Jovial, revered in ^a certain island near the Swedes by the ancient piety of the men. For antiquity, wishing to comprehend the causes of thunderstorms by ^a common resemblance of things, Magnus plunders the Swedish idols and temples. had fashioned in enormous bronze hammers which it believed generated the crashes of heaven, deeming that the violence of such great noise could most aptly be imitated in the form of smith's tools. But Magnus, out of zeal for Christian discipline, hating the pagan, considered it an act of holiness to strip both the temple of its worship and Jupiter of his attributes. And to this day the Swedes regard him as ^a sacrilegious plunderer of celestial treasures. But would that his end had corresponded to his beginnings!"

CHAPTER V.

The fabricated charge of seeking the kingship.

[21] Magnus is incited against Canute. "But the prosperity of Canute was hateful to most who were connected to Magnus by blood or kinship. For nothing kindles the torches of envy more than the unequal virtue of equals. But it was especially the affront to the marriage bed that made Henry his enemy. Margaret, however, ^a most kind nourisher of family affection, opposed the tranquility of her counsel to the agitated tempers of the young men, and with the most salutary moderation of discipline she tempered the treacherous fury of the insolent. When she was afflicted with the disease of edema, pressed by immoderate swelling of the legs, and could not relieve the deadly violence of the disease with medicines, reduced almost to the last degree of wasting, she summoned Canute, trusting in his excellent character, and earnestly exhorted him to cherish the peace of the country and the concord of kinsmen by the benefit of his fidelity, to strengthen it by his protection, and to conduct himself in domestic affairs as much as he had in foreign ones. She added also that there were those who strove to shatter the affection of the royal family with hatred, but that she had suppressed the pestilential incitements of such persons with her fullest salutary admonitions. Canute's kindness and zeal for peace. He affirmed God as the witness of his integrity, and said he would spend the entire time of his life in innocence and fidelity; he promised that he preferred to endure storms of dangers rather than to inflict them, and attested that he would repay hatreds with benefits. She, delighted by the benefit of his promise, declared that, secure in such great fidelity, she would die with ^a tranquil mind. And just as while living she had restrained the waves of youthful envy, so when consumed by death she released them. For from the time of her death, the impatience of youth borrowed its first license for the planned crime."

[23] "Moreover, Henry, besides the common animosity, also detested Canute with private indignation, and shook off with bold impiety the bridles placed upon his malice. He also made Ubbo the Prefect and Haquin his son partners in the conspiracy, Three conspirators bring him under suspicion before his uncle. so as to construct his deceit more firmly and procure ^a readier approach to the crime. These three, weary of the outstanding brilliance of Canute through jealous rivalry of his virtue, unsheathed ^a heavy incitement of falsehood against his excellent renown. Accordingly, desiring to envelop the most splendid light of the country in the densest darkness, they said that he showed no deference to the King's life or reign, but was racing ahead of his death with premature ambition, and was already arrogating royal power to himself."

[24] "The suspicion of such contempt moved the King, and having proclaimed an assembly, he ordered Canute to be summoned. When Canute had arrived first at the appointed place of assembly, Canute honors his uncle. he ran to meet his uncle as he arrived, in the manner of Teutonic courtesy, without his cloak, and honored the King as he dismounted from his horse by the service of holding the saddle. Then Nicholas, beginning to speak in the assembly, showed that the sons of Svein had given particular regard to age in the management of the kingdom, had arranged the order of succession according to seniority, had established the right to rule in the prerogative of years, and that it had not been permitted for ^a younger to precede an elder in honor. Wherefore he himself, He is accused of seeking the kingship. being the youngest by birth and accordingly the last in the kingdom, had followed the example of fraternal restraint and done no violence to fortune; he had been one who waited for its favor, not one who seized it; nor had he stretched out his hand with premature desire toward ^a pinnacle unsuited to his age. But Canute, having too little followed the examples of his predecessors, had violated the custom of the most honorable practice and was snatching the right of the kingdom by title, when he could not yet do so in reality; was seizing the distinctive mark of the name more quickly than justly; and was not ashamed to be already styled by his people with the false title of King. He would act more wisely if he preferred to place the fortune of reigning not in the flattery of his own people but in the death of the King still living, and chose to await ^a mature honor rather than to seize an untimely one." In these and similar terms, Nicholas complained that the distinction of the royal title was being taken from him.

b. He was ^a noble Jute.

CHAPTER VI.

Defense of innocence. New torches of envy.

[25] Canute defends himself. "Then Canute, rising, kept his gaze fixed upon the ground for ^a long time, and preceded the beginning of his speech for ^a while with sweat and sighs. At last, lifting both his eyes and his spirit, and leaning upon the pommel of his sword, as is the custom, he said: 'They err, Father, who provoke your moderation beyond what you owe either to your majesty or your age, and who stir the calm of your most peaceful mind with storms of falsehood and vex it with the hissing of calumnies. But it is very burdensome to me to see the most blameless temperance of your soul borrowing something from an anger most foreign to you, and carried astray as it were by ^a perverse course of reasoning. Cast off, I beg you, those who mendaciously clamor as authors of trifles, and reject the fabrication of this false accusation. For I do not bear to be styled by ^a title injurious to you. He was called Lord, not King, by his people. My people call me Lord, not King. And so, since I have been accustomed to be greeted as Lord by the Slavs, sinister interpreters of such courtesy seize upon the courteous address of others as material for accusation, and, neglecting the duties of veneration themselves, they even find fault with the just obedience of others. I, however, do not usurp the kingdom (as you have said) by name, but by the moderate dignity of the title I avoid ^a proud honor of salutation and scorn an envied pinnacle of honor. Thus without any prejudice to your majesty, barbarian courtesy echoes around me. But those who begrudge my veneration among foreigners are eager to deprive both me of life and you of ^a faithful soldier at your side. I judge them equally enemies of your service and of my person.'"

[26] That he should be called King was not against Nicholas's honor. "'Grant that I am called King: behold, we have recently learned that your son Magnus has gained the insignia and title of kingship in Gothia. For me also, had like fortune favored me in Slavia, you should certainly have been pleased to enjoy the obedience of two Kings, and should have considered the increase of my fortune identical to the increase of your own. For what I would have acquired by my own effort, I would most eagerly have subjected to your eminence; and you would reap the fruit of service from that quarter whence otherwise you would suffer the adversity of losses. Therefore you would have placed more love than hatred in my prosperity. Add to this that I have considered it more joyful than any fortune and more honorable than any pursuit to stand watch for the safety of you and the country. Whether I have served effectively, you yourself know. He recalls his merits toward country and King. Let the Danes, if you please, cultivate the shores. Let their houses be joined to the waters with whatever proximity. Mind the waves yourselves; I shall keep you safe from maritime pirates. And if you do not blush to speak the truth, you yourself, stationed long ago at Schleswig, have had need to defend your safety against the incursions of the Saxons by constant watches. If you now wish to go there, you will be able to spend nights free from fear. Moreover, I have extended the confines of your kingdom, which were content with the possession of Denmark alone, by unprecedented expansions of borders. Those whom you previously had as enemies, now forced into tribute, serve your empire through me. And so you have harvested without effort the fruit of those things whose seed I sowed. And indeed it is fitting that the expense should fall upon the soldier, and the profit upon the King. And lest I further pursue the deeds of my private military service, I have also received wounds on my body in public warfare on your behalf.'"

[27] He complains of the King's unfavorable suspicion. "'And yet you approach one who has deserved so much of you with suspicion and complaint, and do not think it shameful to brand the most ready fidelity and most certain innocence of your veteran soldier? Have I then merited by these services that you should unsheathe your rivalry against me in the assembly? Shall I reap these rewards from my labor, these wages from my military service — that I should experience the indignation of him whose benevolence I hoped for? Far from you be this stain of an ungrateful spirit, that you should respond to the benefits of my deeds with envy and detraction. I believe this entire force of accusation, which springs from envy, is to be imputed not to your malice but to that of your people. But it befits those placed at the pinnacle of the kingdom to show difficult ears to accusers. Long may you hold this ancestral empire, and use the insignia of both name and kingdom happily and prosperously. Let fortune favor the heir whom nature has given you. But I, in whatever state of fortune I shall find myself, will never cease to honor your highness with fidelity and obedience.'"

[28] "The King, soothed by the speech, assuming ^a milder countenance, suddenly laid aside in the very assembly the offense conceived by false instigation, cursing those who had scurrilously assailed his simplicity, and promising that he would henceforth close his ears against such whispers of accusation. The King is appeased but again provoked by rivals. But when Henry saw the whole weight of his detraction overthrown by Canute's most prudent reply, he approached the King with familiar threats, saying that Canute was possessed by the highest ambition for the kingdom and that Magnus would have an uncertain claim to the throne if he had to contend with Canute for the supreme power with the people as judge. For Canute would be preferred by the votes of the populace to the rest of the crowd of nobles. Wherefore the father ought to entrust the right of succession to his own judgment rather than to another's, and clear the field of the rival for the place destined for the heir, if he wished to look out for his son's interests. And so he would be wise if he sought to forestall the suspect fortune of Canute with the sword." These words more severely tormented the mind of the King, already harassed by anxieties and now twisted with graver suspicion than before.

CHAPTER VII.

The wicked murder of Canute.

[29] "Then Magnus, as if he had obtained license from his father to look after his own fortune and remove his rival, compelled those who had previously associated themselves with Henry in the fellowship of the most wicked conspiracy to take an oath Magnus conspires to kill Canute. that they would maintain faithful silence about what had been entrusted to them. Added to these was Haquin, ^a Jute by both surname and birth, and his word was in no respect distrusted, even though he was known to have Canute's sister in marriage. Accordingly the conspirators, long and silently examining among themselves by what storms of dangers and what weight of destruction they might overwhelm the divine head of Canute, wove the snares of their pestilential plan while lying upon the ground, so that if the matter happened to be discovered by chance, A ridiculous evasion of perjury. they could safely swear that they had never plotted against his life while standing or sitting, and could fashion for themselves the defense of innocence from the protection of their position — not understanding that one who utters an oath by ^a trick of words is still liable for perjury. Their deceitful and errant simplicity placed more criminality in the impiety of the words than of the act, establishing the violation of religion not in the rashness of hands but of lips. But when Haquin the Jute perceived that the end of the quietly begun conversation was treacherous to Canute's safety, he immediately tore himself from the fellowship of the pestilential conspiracy Foolish observance of an impious oath. and left the chamber, lest he seem to have played the part of ^a brigand rather than ^a kinsman. Warned therefore by the author of the conspiracy not to break the bond of his oath, he replied that he would be neither an abettor of the plan nor ^a betrayer of it — although it would have been better to forestall the danger to an innocent man by disclosure than to tolerate it by silence."

[30] Magnus feigns friendship with Canute. "But so that Magnus might obscure the texture of his ambush with the protection of familiarity and avoid every mark of suspicion by the keenness of his cunning, he judged it advisable above all to form with him whose blood he most ardently thirsted for ^a feigned equality of friendship by ^a pact of oath, as though he would bind the tie of kinship with the weight of religion. And so that he might forestall every mark of malice with ^a pretense of holiness and not seem to intend anything treacherous or obscure, he covered his most iniquitous machination with ^a treacherous semblance of religion. For, having gathered ^a throng of nobles in Zealand and having invited Canute to Roskilde around the holy feast of Christmas for the purpose of dining together, he professed that ^a love of sacred pilgrimage had come upon him. Furthermore, he appointed Canute guardian of his wife and children and entrusted to him the fullest custody of his household affairs."

[31] Canute is warned of danger by his wife. "And it happened that Ingiburga had grasped knowledge of the plot through the disclosures of those in the secret; and she immediately took care to warn her husband by letter to avoid the ambush prepared against his head. He, judging the warning to have come not so much from the certainty of detection as from womanly fear, rejected the admonition and said that he placed no less trust in Magnus's heart than in his wife's. If fortune had wished to instruct him with counsel as much as his wife did, he would have more wisely avoided the snares of treachery laid before him and would not have exposed his credulity to the hooks of another's malice. Meanwhile, with the magnates taking holiday at Roskilde for the four days of the feast in continuous celebration, Canute and Magnus, now that the public assembly had been dissolved, spent the remainder of the sacred season in ^a divided companionship."

[32] "It happened about that same time that ^a certain man closely related to Canute by blood killed in his presence ^a soldier who had quarreled with him, striking him with ^a club; and on that account, ordered to depart from court, he went to Magnus. Now Magnus, foreseeing that no indication of his plan should leak through this man to Canute, on the night when he set out to perform the detestable office of an executioner, He is summoned by Magnus to the place of ambush. having ordered the rest to follow him, refused this man alone as ^a companion, being suspicious of his former familiarity with Canute. Then he compelled the participants in the plot, bound by oath, to pledge that they would cover everything with silence. After this, he concealed ^a soldier in hiding and arranged the ambush in ^a carefully chosen obscure location. Then he ordered Canute — who was being hosted at the town of Haraldsted by Eric, Prefect of the district of Falster — through one of the conspirators, ^a Saxon by birth and ^a singer by profession, to come and meet him without witnesses. He designated the meeting place at ^a grove near the town."

[33] Unarmed and fearing nothing, he goes to him. "He, suspecting no treachery in the matter, took into his retinue only two men of knightly rank and as many grooms, and mounted his horse without arms, nor did he trouble to take any iron protection for his side. When one of his servants forbade him to proceed without ^a sword, he replied that he had absolutely no need of iron for the protection of his safety. For he had placed so much trust and peace in Magnus's companionship that he did not think he even needed to use ^a sword when going to meet him. But when the adviser persisted in urging him not to leave the sword behind, he reluctantly took up the blade. Then the singer, knowing that Canute was most fond of Saxon customs and language, wishing to instruct him gradually with hints — though the obligation of his oath seemed to prevent him from doing this openly, since he clearly considered it wrong — attempted to betray the matter under ^a veil, dividing his integrity between being ^a faithful keeper of the secret and ^a pious guardian of innocence. Therefore, in the course of ^a most splendid song, he deliberately began to recall the well-known treachery of Grimhild toward her brothers, attempting by the example of that famous fraud to instill in Canute ^a fear of similar things. But he could not shake the pillar of his confidence by any roundabout warnings. For Canute had placed so much trust in Magnus's kinship that he preferred to endanger his own safety rather than to cast suspicion on Magnus's friendship. The singer, persisting in trying to reach him with still clearer signs, revealed the top of the coat of mail he wore beneath his garment. But not even that stimulus to suspicion could overcome with cowardice ^a breast fortified with courage. Thus the attendant of solid industry wished to keep his fidelity both free from perjury and full of innocence."

[34] "And now Canute was entering the first approaches of the forest when he was received by Magnus, who was sitting on ^a fallen tree trunk, with ^a false cheerfulness of countenance and feigned caresses of kisses. When Magnus recognized that the breast pressed in his embrace was covered with iron, he began to inquire why he was dressed in such ^a manner. But Magnus, wanting to conceal the fraud, and wishing to give an account of his armor, said there was ^a man of rustic life whose house he wished to destroy. He dissuades him from the crime, though it was feigned. Canute, piously considering both the atrocity of the deed and the sanctity of the season — for the feast of Epiphany was being observed — begged him not to stain ^a public solemnity with private anger. When Magnus swore that he would neither remit the vengeance nor withdraw from his purpose, Canute himself began to promise just satisfaction and to offer his own guarantee for the man's correction."

[35] "Then, as those who had been assigned to the ambush began to make noise, he looked around and asked what this band of soldiers meant. He is killed by Magnus and his accomplices. To which Magnus replied that the time had come to settle the matter of the succession to the kingdom and the supreme power. Then Canute wished that his father's Majesty might long hold ^a prosperous course under the happy sails of fortune, and denied that such talk was timely. As he spoke these words, Magnus leaped up and seized the top of his head in the manner of one rebuking. Accordingly Canute, the treachery now being manifest, thrusting his hand to the hilt of his sword, tried to draw the blade from its sheath; and he had already half drawn the sword when Magnus struck him dead, splitting the middle of his head. A spring where his blood was shed. The rest of the conspirators stabbed the prostrate man with repeated thrusts of their weapons. His blood, yielded to the earth, provides ^a health-giving spring of water for the perpetual use of mortals."

CHAPTER VIII.

Burial. Popular unrest.

[36] He is buried with meager ceremony. "When the murder was discovered, the sons of Skyalmon — who had great familiarity with him from their shared upbringing — immediately petitioned the King that he would allow Canute to be entombed in the burial ground of Roskilde. The King refused permission for the place, saying that the city would be inflamed by the sight of so great an evil, and that those who would lead the funeral procession of Canute would more fiercely vent their indignation against the hated presence of Magnus. Wherefore the obsequies would have the tumultuous uproar of battle rather than the pious service of humanity." Here it seems to me that the King displayed fear in appearance but in reality hatred, taking care lest ^a distinguished funeral for the slain man add ^a more hideous stain to the murderer. Those who had petitioned the King returned and carried the pitiable body of their friend with ^a meager funeral to Ringsted. Nor did divine beneficence fail those in their labor. For it marked the place where the funeral bier had rested while the bearers paused with the sudden rising of ^a spring. He is made illustrious by miracles. The great splendor of his sanctity also shone forth through very many other signs.

[37] "The report of the crime aroused universal lamentation throughout the land and filled every household with wailing. For when the people received the calamitous news of his death, they immediately laid aside the merriment of the feasts that were being held at that time, He is mourned by all. changed the seasonal custom to grief, and in lamenting him both sexes had the voice of ^a single mourning friend. His funeral, borne out amid public grief, was proof of how great ^a love for him was implanted in the hearts of all. And so the country, which had honored his life with the office of affection, bestowed upon his death also the tears of ^a grateful spirit as witnesses — pursuing Canute with lamentations and the robber of his life with the strongest imprecations. But Magnus, his spirit dissolved in joy over the outcome of the impious murder, Magnus exults. returned to Roskilde, and embracing the kingdom with the firmness of hope as though his rival had now been removed, did not think it disgraceful to celebrate the shameful fortune of the crime with dancing. Indeed, he even dared to insult with mockery Canute's most holy wounds, for which he should have shed tears full of penitence, having conceived pleasure from the crime."

[38] "But lest the blood of one so eminently deserving of heaven and earth should perish without offspring, A posthumous son is born to Canute. God provided an heir for the deceased. For on the eighth day after these events, Ingiburga is said to have given birth to ^a male child conceived from Canute, on whom also the name of his maternal grandfather was bestowed. Then Haquin, whom I indicated above was born of Sunniwa, and with him Peter, born of his mother Botilda, and the sons of Skyalmon, pursuing the atrocity of the crime with ^a grave sequence of complaints, The people are stirred up against the murderers. everywhere deplored the unworthy death of their friend in the assemblies of the people, desiring to raise the anger of the populace against the most iniquitous act of the assassin. Indeed they even displayed before the eyes of all in the assembly his tunic, riddled with numerous holes. Nor did the irritant of the torn garment contribute little to their mournful case; for the spectacle of so foul ^a laceration generated in very many an immense desire for vengeance. Moreover, the sanctity of Canute, revealed by frequent signs and published by divine miracles, was an incredible aid to those who complained of his death."

[39] The calamities of Denmark from this murder. Thus far Saxo Grammaticus, who then pursues the seditions raised against Nicholas and Magnus and the prolonged calamities of Denmark; and at last in Book 14 narrates that Canute began to be honored with public veneration — which Helmold briefly touched upon above.

ON THE TRANSLATION AND CANONIZATION OF SAINT CANUTE.

Canute, Duke of Schleswig in Denmark (S.) BHL Number: 1555, 1556

From Saxo Grammaticus.

[1] The Translation of St. Canute. June 25 is sacred to the Translation of St. Canute, on which day the Cologne Martyrology and the Carthusians of Cologne in their Additions to Usuard record: "In Denmark, the Translation of St. Canute, Duke and Martyr." The manuscript Florarium: "In Denmark, the Translation of St. Canute, King and Martyr." The German Martyrology: "Likewise in Denmark, the Elevation of St. Canute, Duke and Martyr." But Ferrarius on June 24: "In Denmark, St. Canute the Younger, King." In the Translation, this prayer is recited in the Breviary of Schleswig: "Almighty and everlasting God, who dost make Blessed Duke Canute wondrous among the Martyrs by his merits, and manifest among mortals by miracles; grant, we beseech Thee, that we who today celebrate his Translation may by his prayers be able to pass from present misery to everlasting joy. Through the Lord," etc.

[2] For the Lessons, this description of events after his death is recited: "Duke Canute, beloved of God, reaching the end which no one can pass beyond, merited by ^a precious death the reward and name of Martyr in the pledge of faith. Very many therefore bestowed tear-stained lamentations upon one who had died so blessed ^a death (both for the nobility of his lineage, since he was ^a King's son; Burial at Ringsted. and for the excellence of his dignity, since he was ^a Duke and ^a just judge; and for his innate goodness, since he appeared prudent in mind, eloquent in speech, strong in hand, handsome in body, comely in face, familiar to the faithful, and faithful to his Maker). For ^a manifold reason urged them to carry the glorious body to Roskilde; for the city, authorized by the Pontifical See, was more excellent in dignity than the rest, and endowed with the precious pledge of the country's patron, appointed for the burial of both Princes and Prelates, and appeared of greater dignity for the most worthy. But the terror of the Tyrant suddenly compelled them to desist from their purpose. Frustrated therefore in their wish, by divine disposition they carried the relics of the holy Martyr to Ringsted. When at last the limbs of so great ^a Martyr had been committed to ^a tomb in the basilica of Mary, Mother and Virgin, divine goodness made manifest the virtue of the buried one, which remained unburied."

[3] "At that time there were two prebendaries of the holy Church, Miracles vainly obscured by the impious. both wicked, who, because they were vicious, envying the virtues of the Martyr, strove to hide under the bushel of malice him whom the Lord had made manifest. But the more powerful prevailed, falsehood yielding to truth: no one of the faithful gave credence to the false invectives of the detractors of the Martyrs. For persevering in their malice, these second murderers, worse than the first, sat in ambush to kill again the innocent man already once killed. Whence soothsayers, pandering to the frivolities of old women, hastened in vain to defile the tomb of the Saint by applying the brew of an unclean animal, so that by these evil arts, with the miracles ceasing, an end might be put to the memory of the Martyr. But although the son of iniquity undertook to harm the innocent one, the enemy prevailed nothing against him, because he could not obscure with the cloud of wickedness the light burning without ^a spark that the Lord caused to shine upon the one sleeping in the Lord."

[4] "For fifteen years the limbs of the Martyr remained buried, and the happy fame, increasing from day to day with growing miracles, gained increase far and wide. When therefore all his persecutors had been killed — and also Eric, who with leonine ferocity in avenging his brother had spared no one in his slaughter — Eric Spake obtained the kingdom. At that time maturity of age, nobility of nature, the grace of virtues, and the absence of fear brought Valdemar, the son of the Duke and Martyr, long hidden, into public view."

[5] Two Erics are mentioned here; the first is called Emune, who put Harald to death by capital punishment without regard to brotherhood, and contrary to his promise ordered his sons Eric and Bero to be drowned in water, as Saxo relates at the beginning of Book 14. The second is Eric Lam, called Spake also by Helmold; but perhaps Skape should be read, which means "sheep," just as Lam means "lamb"; for historians observe that the name of ^a little sheep was given to him on account of his piety. He was elected not so much as King but as one who would administer the kingdom in ^a tutelary capacity until Valdemar came of age; Valdemar the son is made King; Eric is given as his guardian. and that this happened solely on account of the grateful memory of St. Canute among the Danes is testified by Saxo Grammaticus in Book 14, in these words: "No one presumed either to seek or to seize the vacant possession of Denmark by confidence in blood or virtue. For Svein the son of Eric, Canute the son of Magnus, and Valdemar the son of Canute were not yet of an age ripe for the kingdom. But Christiern proclaimed that Valdemar was most worthy of his father's kingdom, whose vengeance he had aided. His mother, perceiving that this honor, beset by many grave dangers and scarcely bearable even for adults, would be ruinous for ^a small child, refused to hand over the boy to Christiern when he demanded him, saying that this office was owed to elders. At last, when Christiern insisted more stubbornly, she bound him with an oath that he would not allow Valdemar to be elected King. Bringing this oath before the people and the assembly, Christiern recalled the benefits of his father: how he had established laws and justice at home, how he had repressed the enemy abroad, how he had freed the country from thefts and robberies, how he had made Denmark, nearly exhausted and bloodless, the mistress of Slavia, how he had even restored to each person what had been lost by violence, and how by all these deeds he had merited that the kingdom be conferred upon his bloodline. But since his son had not yet reached years mature for governing and it was not expedient for the Danes to conduct military affairs under ^a boy's auspices, ^a man ought to be sought who would administer the kingdom in ^a tutelary capacity until the ward came of age. For this office, no one could be more aptly chosen than Eric, the grandson of the earlier Eric through his daughter, because he excelled in boldness and piety and traced his maternal lineage from Kings — the supreme power being destined to pass to the ward when he came of age." Thus Eric received royal powers from both the favor of the people and the majesty of the boy.

[6] The canonization of Canute is procured. When, after the death of Eric Lam and the killing of Svein and Canute, Valdemar had peacefully obtained the kingdom alone, he promoted the canonization of his father St. Canute. On this Saxo writes in Book 14: "About that same time the envoys of the King, whom he had sent to Rome so that he might be permitted to venerate the sanctity of his father's soul with sacred honors, brought back letters agreeable to his wish. Upon learning of this, the King summoned all the Danish nobility by edict to Ringsted around the feast of St. John, which is celebrated at the summer solstice, and resolved to celebrate both heavenly honors for the parent The inauguration of Canute's grandson. and royal honors for his son (Canute VI); reckoning that he would gain the greatest increase of glory if on one and the same day he bestowed an altar upon the one and ^a crown upon the other — so that the kingdom might receive the infancy of the latter and public religion might consecrate the spirit of the former." And ^a little further on: "They found Valdemar at Ringsted, celebrating with great pomp in the company of ^a large gathering of nobles. There, by the ministry of the Bishop of Lund, whose office it was to perform this, both the bones of his father were committed to the altar and his seven-year-old son Canute was consecrated King, adorned with purple in the royal seat. When these things had been celebrated with due solemnity, Peace granted to the Norwegians. Bishop Helgo of Oslo (or Anslo, in Norway) and Stephen of Uppsala (in Sweden), sent by Erling (Duke of the Norwegians), having taken ^a higher place, besought peace for the Norwegians with ^a gracious address; they showed that peace ought to be granted by the King on this day above all others, on which he had seen his son honored with ^a diadem and his parent with the honor of an altar." So says Saxo. Baronius cites the earlier words of Saxo in Volume 12, at the year of Christ 1164, number 50, and adds: "You have from the same author two King Canutes — one the grandfather, the other the father of King Valdemar himself" — in which we noted above that he errs.

[7] The same narrated by others. The compendious History of the Kings of Denmark, published from manuscript by Lindenbrog, reports that Valdemar, after giving his daughter Christina in marriage to Henry VI, son of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, and having seen his most holy father enrolled in the catalogue of the Saints and his son adorned with the royal diadem, at last died, etc. Krantz in Book 6, Chapter 29, of his Denmark: "At that time the messengers and orators returned whom the King had sent to the city of Rome for the purpose of testifying about the miracles that took place at the tomb of St. Canute, whose King was ^a posthumous son." It was the year 1171 after the thousandth. "Then at Ringsted, where the paternal tomb was, the King convoked ^a full assembly of all the kingdom, the letters from the Apostolic See having been produced. There St. Canute, raised from the tomb by the solemn form of prayers, was placed consecrated upon the altar. At which assembly also the King ordered his son Canute, recently distinguished with the royal title, to be anointed with holy oil and crowned, celebrating in the midst of both solemnities of father and son." So says Krantz, who briefly touches upon the same canonization again in Book 3, Chapter 34, of his Vandalia, Book 5, Chapter 28, of his Saxony, and Book 6, Chapter 2. Johannes Magnus in Book 2 of the Lives of the Bishops of Uppsala, under Archbishop Stephen, writes thus: "The affairs of the Norwegians, because of the prolonged wars which they had waged with the Danes under Duke Erling, would have come almost to utter ruin had not the most prudent embassy and excellent eloquence of this Stephen obtained peace for them from King Valdemar; on which business he spent much labor and expense, and at the same time, together with Eskil, Archbishop of Lund, he inscribed St. Canute, Duke and King of the Obotrites, in the catalogue of the Saints by command of Pope Alexander III." So says Magnus, who has similar things also in Book 19, Chapter 7, of his History of the Goths. Cypraeus in Chapter 27 writes that all these things were done in the year 1171.