King Edmund most graciously assented and yielded to his words, though he could not be forced by arms.  The kingdom was therefore, by Edmund’s direction, divided between the two, the crown of the whole kingdom reverting to King Edmund.  The whole of England, therefore, to the south of the river Thames, was ceded to him, with Essex and East Anglia, and the city of London, the capital of the kingdom, Canute retaining the northern parts of the kingdom.  Laying aside, therefore, their splendid armour, the kings embraced each other amidst the rejoicings of both the armies.  They then exchanged their garments and arms in token of peace, and Edmund became Canute, and Canute Edmund.”—­Roger of Wendover, Bohn’s Edition.

xviii The Death of Edmund.

This lamentable occurrence is involved in much mystery.  Edric Streorn was generally credited with the deed, although some writers, e.g.  William of Malmesbury, think he used the aid of attendants on the king, whom he bribed.  The Chronicle is silent as to details.  Henry of Huntingdon ascribes the deed to a son of Edric.  Roger of Wendover agrees with him, adding the facts that the place was Oxford, and the time St. Andrew’s night, as in the text.  Amidst these conflicting statements fiction perhaps most legitimately takes its place.

xix The Ordeal.

This ancient custom was observed by Simplicius, Bishop of Autun, so early as the fourth century, and was very generally in use during the period of our tale.  Although never formally recognised by the Church of Rome, and forbidden by many edicts on the Continent, it was administered in England under the direction of the clergy, and its details prescribed by the canons during a period extending from the laws of Alfred to the directions given in the ecclesiastical laws of Edward the Confessor, the year before the Norman Conquest, A.D. 1065.  The first prohibition of its use in England is in the third year of Henry the Third.

There were three principal modes of its administration.  In the first, the ordeal by water, the accused had to take a heavy piece of iron from a boiling cauldron placed in the church—­in the second, to carry a bar of heated iron nine feet.  The hand or arm was bound in linen, the bandage sealed by the priest, and on the third day the limb was uncovered.  If the burn or scald had healed the prisoner was pronounced innocent, otherwise he had to suffer the punishment due to his offence.

The details given in the text are chiefly taken from the Canons of Athelstane; but the mode of purgation therein described is similar to that by which it is said Queen Emma repelled an accusation made by Robert, Bishop of London, in the year 1046.  This mode of administration was perhaps more frequently used when a prompt appeal was needed to the judgment of God, or in the case of persons of rank, were they ever, as was seldom the case, compelled to appeal to its decision.

xx It was a subject of complaint against Canute in Denmark that he gave away most of the bishoprics to Englishmen.