His language differed little from the English tongue.

He brought in no new system of tenure or government.
Cnut ruled in fact not as a foreign conqueror but as a native king.

He dismissed his Danish host, and retaining only a trained band of household troops or "hus-carls" to serve as a body-guard relied boldly for support within his realm on the justice and good government he secured it.

He fell back on "Eadgar's Law," on the old constitution of the realm, for his rule of government; and owned no difference between Dane and Englishman among his subjects.

He identified himself even with the patriotism which had withstood the stranger.