Chapter IX: Canute, an Experimental King

This memorable monarch, having set out from Norway to collect some Danegeld, landed by mistake at Thanet, and thus became King.

CANUTE AND THE WAVES

Canute began by being a Bad King on the advice of his Courtiers, who informed him (owing to a misunderstanding of the Rule Britannia) that the King of England was entitled to sit on the sea without getting wet. But finding that they were wrong he gave up this policy and decided to take his own advice in future--thus originating the memorable proverb, “Paddle your own Canute”--and became a Good King and C. of E., and ceased to be memorable. After Canute there were no more aquatic kings till William IV (see later, Creation of Piers).

Canute had two sons, Halfacanute and Partacanute, and two other offspring, Rathacanute and Hardlicanute, whom, however, he would never acknowledge, denying to the last that he was their Fathacanute.