Augustin Rischgitz.
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF LONDON GIVEN BY WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR
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Then arose an aged craftsman, and after him another, and yet a third, and the burden of their words was the same: “I remember how King Cnut besieged us, and behind our walls we laughed at him.”
And all the people cried, “Yea! yea!”
“And he drew his ships by the trench that he cut in the mud round the bridge, and we fought the ships and beat him off.”
And all the people cried, “Yea! yea!”
“And we would have none but our own king, Edmund Ironside.”
And all the people cried, “Yea! yea!”
Meantime the Bishop listened and bowed his head as if in assent. And when all had spoken, he said, “Fair citizens, it is true that King Cnut besieged you and that you beat him off, like valiant citizens. Remember, however, that in the end you made Cnut your king. Was he a just king—strong in battle and in peace merciful—was he, I say, a good king?”