not easily be beaten. And the truth is, he never was, by Harda-Knut
or any other. Harda-Knut's last transaction with him was, To make a
firm Peace and even Family-treaty sanctioned by all the grandees of
both countries, who did indeed mainly themselves make it; their two
Kings assenting: That there should be perpetual Peace, and no thought
of war more, between Denmark and Norway; and that, if either of the
Kings died childless while the other was reigning, the other should
succeed him in both Kingdoms. A magnificent arrangement, such as has
several times been made in the world's history; but which in this
instance, what is very singular, took actual effect; drunken Harda-
Knut dying so speedily, and Magnus being the man he was. One would
like to give the date of this remarkable Treaty; but cannot with
precision. Guess somewhere about 1040:[17] actual fruition of it came
to Magnus, beyond question, in 1042, when Harda-Knut drank that
wassail bowl at the wedding in Lambeth, and fell down dead; which in
the Saxon Chronicle is dated 3d June of that year. Magnus at once
went to Denmark on hearing this event; was joyfully received by the
headmen there, who indeed, with their fellows in Norway, had been main
contrivers of the Treaty; both Countries longing for mutual peace, and
the end of such incessant broils.

Magnus was triumphantly received as King in Denmark. The only
unfortunate thing was, that Svein Estrithson, the exile son of Ulf,
Knut's Brother-in-law, whom Knut, as we saw, had summarily killed
twelve years before, emerged from his exile in Sweden in a flattering
form; and proposed that Magnus should make him Jarl of Denmark, and
general administrator there, in his own stead. To which the sanguine
Magnus, in spite of advice to the contrary, insisted on acceding.
"Too powerful a Jarl," said Einar Tamberskelver--the same Einar whose
bow was heard to break in Olaf Tryggveson's last battle ("Norway