A Concise History of England Author:John Edwards Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: divide the country between them,—Canute ruling the north, and Edmund the south. On Edmund's death, in the same year, Canute assumed the throne of the whole co... more »untry, with the consent of the nation, who had no wish to renew the bloody and hopeless contest. CHAP. V. THE DANES, AND RESTORATION OP THE SAXON LINE Canute ruled England prudently, and without opposition. Both he and the Danes were little acquainted with the doctrines of Christianity; and though many of them had been baptized, they preserved their heathen rites. These Canute exerted himself to suppress, and rebuilt many of the churches which had been destroyed during the preceding contests. His endeavour was to incorporate the Danes with the English, and to treat both nations with impartiality. He punished severely all infractions of the law, and gradually uprooted the habits of plunder to which the Danes had been accustomed. Dying in 1035 he was succeeded by his son Harold, surnamed Harefoot. In this reign Edward, the son of Edmund Ironside, made an unsuccessful attempt to regain his father's kingdom. In 1040, Hardicanute, Harold's brother, ascended the throne. He was the son of Canute, by Emma, the widow of Edmund Ironside. He is described as of a mild and generous character, and a good governor; but his reign was very short. He died in 1042, leaving no children, and thus the Danish line of kings became extinct. The great Earl Godwin, on the death of Hardicanute, rose in the assembly of thanes and bishops, and proposed to recall Edward, the Saxon heir of the throne, from exile. This proposal was unanimously agreed to, and, amidst the joy of the nation, Edward was crowned king. He married Editha, daughter of Godwin, and was obliged to augment the already enormous power of that earl, and his six sons, who ...« less