[644] Cp. Zschokke, Des Schweizerlands Geschichte, c. 7, as to the psychological effect of an organised worship in a great building on heathens without any such centre. And see the frank admission of J.R. Green, Short History, p. 54, that among the Anglo-Saxons "religion had told against political independence."
[645] Cp. C.F. Allen, History of Denmark, French tr., Copenhagen, 1878, i, 55, 56.
[646] Crichton and Wheaton, Scandinavia, i, 129-32; Hardwick, Church History: Middle Age, 1853, p. 115. Knut was a great supporter of missionaries. Hardwick attributes to Gorm a "bitter hatred" of the Church, and also "violence," but gives no details.
[647] Even Svend is said to have laboured for Christianity in his latter years—another suggestion that it was found to answer monarchic purposes. See Hardwick, p. 115, note 9.
[648] Cp. Dasent, Introd. to The Burnt Njal, p. ix.
[649] Hardwick, as cited, p. 117.
[650] Hardwick, as cited.
[651] A warlike priest of Bremen is said to have converted him in Germany; and he was baptised in the Scilly Islands, which he had visited on a piratical expedition. Finally he was confirmed in England, which he promised to treat in future as a friendly State. (Id. ib.)
[652] Crichton and Wheaton, i, 151.
[653] Cp. Hardwick. p. 118, note 3.