But Edric Streone was as Judas to me.
So Thrand and Guthorm grumbled, and forbore, though they would have spent their own lives willingly in this way had I lifted a finger.
It was, however, in revenge for the Stamford business that they would slay the earl, and that was only my quarrel, nothing higher.
Nevertheless I owed them thanks for their love thus shown to me, and so I told them.

Little had I done to deserve it; but who shall know what wins the love of rough souls like these?
Strange news came with Streone, though I had heard rumours thereof before, as I have said.

It was true that Cnut was to wed Emma the queen; and they had, as it seemed, already been betrothed, at the advice of the three great jarls.

Now she and the athelings her sons were back in Normandy, and one might see what the reason of this policy was, Not only was Duke Richard kept quiet, but also Cnut was stepfather to Eadward Atheling and his brothers.

That meant that if Cnut won, they must needs suffer him to take the crown unopposed.
And more than this, if Cnut must leave England alone presently, when Eadmund died he would claim the throne at once, either for himself or for one of these athelings as his under-king.