L. Hunt.
Canute' or Cnut and Edmund Ironside. William of Malmesbury says: When Canute and Edmund were ready for their sixth battle in Gloucestershire, it was arranged between them to decide their respective claims by single combat. Cnut was a small man, and Edmund both tall and strong; so Cnut said to his adversary, "We both lay claim to the kingdom in right of our fathers; let us therefore divide it and make peace;" and they did so.
Canutus of the two that furthest was from hope ...
Cries, "Noble Edmund hold! Let us the land divide."
... and all aloud do cry,
"Courageous kings, divide! 'Twere pity such should die."
Drayton, Polyolbion, xii. (1613).
Canute's Bird, the knot, a corruption of "Knut," the Cinclus bellonii, of which king Canute was extremely fond.
The knot, that called was Canutus' bird of old,
Of that great king of Danes, his name that still doth hold,