Epistola Ailnothi ad regem Dacie Nicolaum de passione gloriosissimi Canuti regis et martyris.

Principum duci precipuo, nobilium primicerio, patrię, patricio pio inuicto magnifico, Dacię prouisori serenissimo, tam specie quam et nominis dignitate illustrissimo regi Nicolao: diuini officii ministrorum infimus Ailnothus, Cancia Anglorum metropolitana urbe editus, iam uero Dacie partibus quatuor quinquennijs et bis fere binis annis demoratus: hostium uires uirtute diuina subuertere, contumacium colla potentię pede proterere, regni iura decenter disponere, pacis securitate perfrui, et post decursum temporalis imperij sempiterne felicitatis beatitudine ditari!

Clementiam mansuetudinis glorię uestrę, sicut proteruus quilibet et imprudens seu uecors detestatur, sic prouidus quisque et probitatis executor, tam presentia quam et exequentia simul moderationis dispiciendo discretione, non modo laudibus uerum digno uenerationis affectu extollendo prosequitur. Iudicem enim uniuersorum, quem rex propheticus et opilionum fortissimus iustum et fortem denunciat, eundem etiam patientem et longanimem esse declarat; et cuius honorem iudicium diligere insinuat, ei se misericordiam cum iudicio decantare manifestat.

Cuius uestra excellentia pietatis modum pro modulo mortalibus concesso exequens, et iusticię seueritati mansuetudinis lenitatem preferens, eius ob hoc ipso opitulante glorie compos efficieris, cuius hic uicem tam dignitate quam et nominis participatione exequeris. Ipse quippe, potentes de sede deiciens, humiles et in presenti exaltat et in perpetuum sempiterne beatitudinis honore magnificat.

Illius, ut credi potissimum est, gratia preciosus frater tuus germanus Canutus, iam indubitanter beatus cognominandus, ex apice temporalis imperii gloriam nactus decoris perpetui, sicut inter mortales regni gloriosus excellebat potentia, sic iam beatis spiritibus associatus gloriosior uirtutum effulget magnificentia.

Cuius ego presumptuose gestorum simul et certaminum insignia explicare aggressus imperitę linguę infacundię ignosci deposco, ut, siquid inane seu ueritatis uacuum pondere uisus aspectantium offenderit, non superducto protinus supercilio pharisaica condempnetur inuidia, sed sincerę discretionis articulo exterminandis sublatis inserantur probabilia. Siquidem mordacis inuidię morbum, qui uersus exiguitatem imbecillitatis nostrę interdum solet assurgere, haud modo extinguendum, immo expergiscendum autumo, cum euentilatum cineribus ignem frustulis appositis, fumiuoma licet flamma obfuscante, incendijs aptare contendo.

Sed soricem in situla salientem gallus atria perlustrans et sub tecti culmine anhelitu raucisono aera uerberans pertranseat et cum comparibus adacutis calcaribus bellum certaminis ineat.

Neque enim ego Danaum classes Dardanis excidium inferentes edissero, non acies Hectoreas Mirmidonum armis umbonibus obiectis insigniter obuiantes commemoro; sed quę de gestis religiosi principis et deo dilecti martyris probabilibus personis utriusque sexus et ordinis referentibus agnoui, religiosi habitus uiris, Ihesu Christo ibidem insignique triumphatori deseruientibus, obnixe suffragantibus posterorum memorię reseruanda apicibus contradidi, ea pietati maiestatis uestrę representans, ut et de tanti germani glorificatione plenius exhilaretur et ad eiusdem uirtutis insignia emulanda superno prouisore aspirante ardentius incitetur.

Meis igitur cęptis, pacis simul et patrię prouisor, solita pietate faueto, et, quę de opinatissimo progenitore uestro gloriosorumque germanorum tuorum temporibus ad hęc usque presentia magnificentię uestrę tempora exarando perstrinxi, regio dignare confirmare decreto, ut habeat dignitas regia tam proprii quam et precedentium exercitij monimenta posteris deferenda.

Ambiguitatis uero scrupulum de preciositate sanctitatis huius, de quo operis nostri summa est, dei hominis a pectoris sui secreto fidelis quisque remoueat, qui deum omnia posse et ante, quam efficiantur, prenosse ac preordinasse non hesitat. Qui enim angelum superbię ob extollentię contumatiam de excelsissimis deiecit, ipse humiles et quietos eiusque iudicia metuentes de infimis ad superna deducit; et qui de silice durissima Aaron uirga percutiente laticem produxit, ipse sibi de rege martyrem, de principe terreno regni cęlestis consortem elegit.

Hec autem qui omnipotentem peregisse dissimulat, ne et ipse a diuine repromissionis solo exterminetur pertimescat. Petro quippe attestante, in omni gente qui timet deum et operatur iusticiam, acceptus est illi. Et quia potens est deus de lapidibus suscitare filios Abrahę, cur ex gente, licet durissima, catholica tamen fide insignita, principem religiosum, ueritatis et iusticię exsecutorem, sanctorum in supernis collegam non dignaretur efficere? Sed cum uniuersa possibilia sint credentibus, et deus in illo potentię suę clementiam peregisse credatur, et pro patrocinio terrigenis prouiso debitę uenerationis obsequio ab uniuersis magnificetur.

Letare ergo, rex insignissime, tanta fratris adornatus glorificatione! exulta confidens apud deum aduocatum habere, in cuius hic regni solio eo concedente meruisti residere. Gratulare illum cęlis euectum, Abrahę sinu reconditum, angelorum socium, martyrum conciuem effectum beatorum choris interesse, dei uultum presentem cernere, gloriam maiestatis inspicere et hoc iam interuentus ope peragere, quod hic regia quondam functus potentia non ualebat perpetrare. Visu namque orbatis lucis respectum condonat, cutem lazarica tabe putrescentem expurgat,

Obstructas aperit aures, et famina reddit,

Dum linguę neruos, gressusque resoluit habenas;

Effugat et febres, cunctos pellitque dolores:

In sanctis quoniam deus est mirabilis, ipsis

Virtutes, signa faciens post inclita gesta,

Vt cęlo clari fiant seclo manifesti.

Tanti igitur germani pignora regia condignis adornet donis potentia, edis sacrę decus amplificet, spiritualis normę uiros cultui ibidem diuino iugiter insistentes solidando corroboret, ut pro temporalis suffragij amminiculo superne remunerationis in ęternum potiaris premio. Eius quoque intercessionis obtentu hostium tibi uires subiciantur inimicorum cuneus attenuetur, regni ius consolidetur, pacis securitas confirmetur, sospitatis integritas tribuatur, morbus ac pestilentia pellatur, commoda queque conualescant, incommoda decrescant, et decidui longeua imperij meta decursa ad superna transmissus in regia glorieris ęterna. Vigeat et ualeat in ęternum pietas uestra, et diuinę miserationis respectu regięque subleuationis opitulatione sustentetur inbecillitas nostra!

Ælnoth’s Letter to King Niels of Denmark on the Passion of the Most Glorious King and Martyr Canute

To Niels, most noble king of the Danes, guardian of the realm and protector of peace, illustrious in both dignity and name: Ælnoth, least among the ministers of divine service, born in Canterbury among the English and having now dwelt in the lands of Denmark for nearly twenty-four years, prays that by God’s strength you may overcome your enemies, govern the kingdom with justice, preserve the peace of your people, and after the course of earthly rule attain the blessedness of eternal life.

The reckless and foolish despise the mercy and restraint of prudent rulers, but wise and honorable men praise them. For the judge of all things, whom Scripture proclaims both mighty and just, is also patient and long-suffering. And he who loves justice also joins mercy to judgment.

By choosing compassion over severity and mercy over harsh punishment, Your Majesty shares, with God’s help, in the likeness of him whose authority you bear on earth. For God casts down the proud from their heights and raises up the humble, glorifying them both in this life and in the life to come.

So too your brother Canute — now rightly to be called blessed — has passed from earthly kingship into everlasting glory. As he once stood above other men in royal dignity and strength, so now among the blessed he shines still more brightly through the greatness of his virtues.

I myself have dared to set down the deeds and sufferings of this man, though my tongue is unskilled and unequal to so great a task. If anything in these pages seems lacking or imperfect, let it not be condemned in arrogance, but corrected with honest judgment. For envy delights in attacking weakness, just as smoke rises before flame; yet even a fire buried beneath ashes may grow stronger when stirred.

But let others sing of Troy and of Greek fleets crossing the sea, or of heroes meeting in battle beneath the walls of ancient cities. I write instead of what I have learned concerning a devout king and glorious martyr from trustworthy witnesses of every rank and station. These things I commit to memory for future generations, encouraged by faithful men devoted to Christ and his triumph in this land.

I present this work to Your Majesty so that you may rejoice more fully in the glory of so great a brother and be moved to imitate his virtues with even greater zeal.

Therefore, guardian of the realm and defender of peace, receive this undertaking with your customary kindness, and let royal authority preserve the memory both of your forefathers and of your own age for those who come after.

And if any doubt remains concerning the sanctity of this man, let every faithful person cast it aside. For God, who knows and ordains all things before they come to pass, is able to raise the humble from the dust and glorify those who fear him. He who once brought water from the rock through Aaron’s rod has likewise chosen to make a martyr from a king and a citizen of heaven from an earthly ruler.

Whoever denies that the Almighty can accomplish such things should remember the words of the Apostle: in every nation, the one who fears God and does what is just is acceptable to him. And if God is able to raise children of Abraham from stones, why should he not also raise from among this people a righteous ruler and faithful servant of justice, worthy to be numbered among the saints?

Therefore rejoice, most noble king, that you possess so great an advocate before God. Rejoice that your brother has been received among the blessed, joined to the company of angels and martyrs, and now accomplishes through heavenly intercession what he once could not fulfill through earthly rule.

For through him God grants sight to the blind,

restores speech to the mute,

strengthens the lame,

drives away sickness,

and reveals his power through signs and wonders,

so that his saints may be glorified both in heaven and on earth.

Therefore may Your Majesty honor the precious relics of so great a martyr, adorn the holy church with fitting gifts, and strengthen those who serve there in divine worship. And may God, through the intercession of blessed Canute, preserve your kingdom in peace, subdue your enemies, strengthen justice, drive away famine and pestilence, and grant you, after the course of this earthly life, entrance into the eternal kingdom.

May your reign flourish under divine mercy, and may our own weakness likewise be sustained through the grace of God and the protection of royal favor.