Cnut was with his feudal chief--for such Cuthbert had now, by his accession to the rank of Earl of Evesham, become--and three or four English archers.
"I fear, my lords," the king said to his knights as he sat in a little room in an inn at Zara, "that my plight is a bad one.

I am surrounded by enemies, and, alas! I can no longer mount my steed and ride out as at Jaffa to do battle with them.

My brother, John Lackland, is scheming to take my place upon the throne of England.

Philip of France, whose mind is far better at such matters than at setting armies in the field, is in league with him.

The Emperor Henry has laid claim to the throne of Sicily.