CANUTE.

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engaged in pursuit of the discomfited Swedes. Hewas so pleased with this success, and with themanner of obtaining it, that he bestowed hisdaughter in marriage upon Godwin, and treatedhim ever after with entire confidence and regard.

In another voyage, which he made afterwardsto Denmark, Canute attacked Norway, and ex-pelling the just, but unwarlike Olaus , kept pos-session of his kingdom, till the death of thatprince. He had now by his conquests and valourattained the utmost height of grandeur: Havingleisure from wars and intrigues, he felt the unsa-tisfactory nature of all human enjoyments; andequally weary of the glories and turmoils of thislife, he began to cast his view towards that futureexistence, which it is so natural for the humanmind, whether satiated by prosperity or disgustedwith adversity, to make the object of its attention.Unfortunately, the spirit which prevailed in thatage gave a wrong direction to his devotion:Instead of making compensation to those whomhe had injured by his former acts of violence ,he employed himself entirely in those exercisesof piety, which the monks represented as. themost meritorious. He built churches, he endowedmonasteries, he enriched the ecclesiastics, and hebestowed revenues for the support of chantriesat Aflington and other places; where he appoint-ed prayers to be said for the souls of those whohad there fallen in battle against him. He evenundertook a pilgrimage to Rome , where he resid-ed a considerable time ; Besides obtaining from

II A P.III.

1028.