should obey the other laws of the country; which he did not alter in the least; neither did he interfere with the estates of the nobles, nor with their rights over their vassals; and he consulted with the Witanagemote, or Parliament, in all affairs of importance.
17. This Parliament was composed of the great nobles and the bishops, so that it was like our House of Lords; and, when the king made a new law, the people were not obliged to obey it, until it had been approved by the Witanagemote.
18. As long as Canute reigned, which was nineteen years, there were peace and plenty, and the poor people were much happier than they had been for a long time, for they could stay at home and mind their farms, or work at their trades, without being called away continually to fight the Danes.
19. The king, it is true, kept a large army of Danish soldiers, and the people had to pay heavy taxes to support them; but this was better than seeing them come as enemies into the towns and villages to destroy or take every thing.
20. After the death of Canute, his two sons reigned in succession, but they were neither very
