A.D. 1017. CANUTE DIVIDES CHE KINGDOM. 103 Dut they, God testifying thereto, gave false testimony and treacherously lied, thinking both that Canute would prove more kind to them by reason of their falsehoods, and that they should gain great rewards from him ; whereas, not long after, some of these false witnesses were slain by the same king. After having put the above question, king Canute received the oaths of fealty from the nobles above-mentioned ; on which they swore to him that they willingly chose him for their king, and would readily obey him, and pay tribute to his army ; and having received pledges from his bare hand, together with the oaths of the principal men among -the Danes, they utterly disregarded the brothers and sons of king Edmund, and declared that they should not be their kings. Now, one of the above-mentioned Clito's was Edwin the Excellent, a most revered brother of king Edmund, whom on that occasion, with most wicked counsels, they pronounced deserving of banishment. When, therefore, Canute had listened to the adulation of the persons above-mentioned, and the contempt in which they held Edwin, rejoicing, "he entered his chamber, and calling to him the perfidious duke Edric, inquired of him in what way he might be able to beguile Edwin to the risk of his life ; on which Edric made answer, that he knew a certain man named Athelward, who could very easily put him to death, with whom he should be able to have some conversation, and to whom he would offer a very considerable reward. However, on learning the name of the man, the king cunningly sent for him, and said : " Thus and thus has duke Edric informed me, saying that you are able to beguile the Clito Edwin, so that he may be slain ; do you only assent to my proposal, and obtain for me his head, and you shall enjoy all the honors and dignities of your forefathers, and shall be • dearer to me than my own born brother." On this, he made answer that he was willing to seek for him in order that he might be slain, if in any way he could effect it : but, in reality, he did not wish to kill him at present, but, by way of excuse, made this promise: he was a person sprung from a most noble English family. In this year king Canute obtained the rule of the whole of England, and dividedit into four parts ; Wessex he took for himself, East Anglia he gave to earl Turkill, Mercia to the perfidious duke Edric, and Northumbria to earl Eiric. He also made a treaty with the nobles and all the people, and they established