Notwithstanding all this, when or howsoeuer he died, immediatlie [Sidenote:  Wil.  Malmes. H.  Hunt. Canute or Cnute.] after his deceasse the Danes elected his sonne Cnute or Knought to succeed in his dominions.  But the Englishmen of nothing more desirous than to shake off the yoke of Danish thraldome besides their necks & shoulders, streightwaies vpon knowledge had of Swaines death, with all [Sidenote:  Eglered sent for home.] speed aduertised king Egelred thereof, and that they were readie to receiue and assist him if he would make hast to come ouer to deliuer his countrie out of the hands of strangers.  These newes were right ioiful vnto Egelred, who burning in desire to be reuenged on them that had expelled him out of his kingdome, made no longer tariance to set [Sidenote:  Edmund K. Egelreds eldest sonne.] that enterprise forward.  But yet doubting the inconstancie of the people, he sent his elder son (named Edmund) to trie the minds of them, and to vnderstand whether they were constant or wauering in that which they had promised.

The yoong gentleman hasting ouer into England, and with diligent inquirie perceiuing how they were bent, returned with like speed as he came into Normandie againe, declaring to his father, that all things were in safetie if he would make hast.  King Egelred then conceiued [Sidenote:  King Egelred returneth into England.] an assured hope to recouer his kingdom, aided with his brother in laws power, and trusting vpon the assistance of the Englishmen, returned into England in the time of Lent.  His returne was ioifull and most acceptable to the English people, as to those that abhorred the [Sidenote:  Canutes endeuor to establish himselfe in the kingdome.] rule of the Danes, which was most sharpe and bitter to them, although Cnute did what he could by bountifulnesse and courteous dealings to haue reteined them vnder his obeisance.

And of an intent to procure Gods fauour in the well ordering of things for the administration in the common wealth, he sought first to appease his wrath, and also to make amends to saint Edmund for his fathers offense committed (as was thought) against him:  insomuch [Sidenote:  S. Edmunds ditch.] that after he had obteined the kingdome, he caused a great ditch to be cast round about the land of saint Edmund, and granted manie freedoms to the inhabitants, acquiting them of certeine taskes and paiments, vnto the which other of their neighbours were contributarie.  He also builded a church on the place where saint Edmund was buried, and ordeined an house of moonks there, or rather remooued the canons or secular priests that were there afore, and put moonks in their roomes.  He offered vp also his crowne vnto the same S. Edmund, and [Sidenote:  Polydor. Fabian.] redeemed it againe with a great summe of monie, which maner of dooing grew into an vse vnto other kings that followed him.  He adorned the church there with manie rich iewels, and indowed the monasterie with great possessions.