318 ON THE ICTIS OF DIODORUS SICULUS. 
their flattery, by commanding the sea to retire, 
and waiting the result, as though he expected that 
it would obey his mandate. But the tide advan- 
cing, and compelling him to withdraw, he is said 
to have taken occasion, from this circumstance, 
to let his base flatterers know, that the titles of 
Lorp and Masrer belong only to Him, whom 
the land and the sea obey. It is also reported 
that, from this time, Canute never wore his crown 
again; but ordered it to be put upon the head of 
the crucifix in Winchester Cathedral. It is far 
more probable, however, that this act of humility 
was occasioned by the loss, which his kingdom 
had sustained, from the unprecedented encroach- 
ments of the sea, than by the mere circumstance 
‘of the tide, in its usual course, having presumed 
to wet his royal person. Bromton mentions ano- 
ther instance, in which the sea burst its boun- 
daries; and did not return within its customary 
limits, till after a lapse of about two days.* This 
occurred in the reign of Henry II., A. D. 1176; 
so that, including the two cases mentioned in a 
* Eodem anno mare extra fines in Anglia erumpens multos 
in Holandia homines et pecora absorbuit, et quasi post 
biduum furore sedato in semet ipsum rediit—Chronicon, ut 
sup. A.D. 1176; p. 1117. 
