That generous foe of mine, Egil--if indeed I should not call him my friend, as he named me once--had set two months as the time in which I must bide in peace, and I will not say that this space seemed likely to go over-heavily for me.

We could hear little news except from such ships as put in from along the coast, and the first news that came was when Godwine returned from Bosham.
The Danes had taken the queen to Winchester in high honour, and there she was living in some sort of state, which pleased her well enough, until word came from Cnut concerning her.

It was thought that he would let her go back to Normandy, keeping the athelings as hostages.

So concerning her and them my mind was at rest.
Now Cnut was besieging London.

But before he had left Wessex, there had been a great council of bishops and clergy at Salisbury, and at that gathering he had been chosen as king in succession to Ethelred, whose house was not loved.