MAGNUS THE GOOD* AND OTHERS. 155 crushed away from Norway into Heaven, universal odium more and more in that country. Well- deservedly, as still appears ; for their taxings and ex- tortions of malt, of herring, of meal, smithwork and every article taxable in Norway, were extreme ; and their service to the country otherwise nearly imper- ceptible. In brief their one basis there was the power of Knut the Great ; and that, like all earthly things, was liable to sudden collapse, — and it suffered such in a notable degree. King Knut, hardly yet of middle age, and the greatest King in the then world, died at Shaftesbury, in 1035, as Dahlmann thinks,* — leaving two legitimate sons and a busy, intriguing widow (Norman Emma, widow of Ethelred the Unready), mother of the younger of these two ; neither of whom proved to have any talent or any continuance. In spite of Emma's utmost efforts, Harald, the elder son of Knut, not hers, got England for his kingdom ; Emma and her Harda-Knut had to be content with Denmark, and go thither, much against their will.
- Saacon Chronicle says : * 1035. In this year died King Cnut.
... He departed at Shaftesbury, November 12, and they conveyed him thence to "Winchester, and there buried him. '
